Implementation and Evaluation of the FLS Model Nursing in the Rehabilitation of Geriatric Patients with Femoral Neck Fractures.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of FLS model nursing in the rehabilitation of elderly patients after femoral neck fracture surgery. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 89 elderly patients treated surgically for femoral neck fractures, comparing outcomes between those receiving routine nursing (control group, n=44) and FLS model nursing interventions (observation group, n=45). Key metrics included rehabilitation process indicators, hip joint function, self-efficacy, perceived burden, limb stability, and adverse reactions. Results: The observation group showed significantly shorter first out-of-bed time, time for pain disappearance, and length of hospital stay compared to the control group. The observation group also exhibited significantly higher scores in pain, gait, functional activities, and deformity/mobility assessments after the intervention compared to the control group. The GSES score was significantly higher and the SPB score was significantly lower in the observation group after the intervention compared to the control group. The observation group demonstrated significantly higher levels of dynamic balance ability, lower limb muscle strength, and mobile walking ability than the control group. The incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the observation group (8.89%) compared to the control group (36.36%). Conclusion: FLS model nursing intervention has a significant positive effect on the rehabilitation of elderly patients undergoing surgery for femoral neck fractures. Compared to routine nursing intervention, the FLS model nursing intervention can further promote postoperative recovery of hip joint function, improve self-efficacy, alleviate the self-perceived burden, shorten the rehabilitation process, and reduce the risk of adverse postoperative reactions. These findings suggest the FLS model nursing approach holds promise for broader clinical adoption and implementation.

Characterization, Sources and Excessive Cancer Risk of PM2.5-Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Different Green Spaces in Lin'an, Hangzhou, China.

PM2.5 samples were collected from residential, commercial, plaza and public green spaces in Lin'an, Hangzhou, in spring (March and April) and winter (February and December) in 2017. PAHs were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and their sources were identified using the diagnostic ratio (DR) and principal component analysis-multiple linear regression (PCA-MLR). The average PAH concentration in winter was 1.3 times that in spring (p < 0.01). The PAH concentrations in the green spaces decreased as commercial > residential > plaza > public green space (p < 0.05). The sources of PAHs were vehicle emissions and coal combustion pollution transported by northern Chinese air masses. Slightly higher excessive cancer risks were determined in the commercial and residential green spaces than in the plaza and public green spaces. Green coverage, pedestrian volume, traffic flow and building density greatly influenced the decrease in the PAH concentration in the green spaces. Among the 4 types of green spaces, public green space had the most ecological benefits and should be fully utilized in urban green space planning to improve public health in urban spaces.

Kuhn-Munkres Algorithm-Based Matching Method and Automatic Device for Tiny Magnetic Steel Pair.

The tiny magnetic steel pair (TMSP), composed by two tiny magnetic steel blocks (TMSBs), is critical for some precision instruments. Incorrect matching of TMSP may result in insufficient instrument performance. Herein, the matching method of TMSP based on the Kuhn-Munkres algorithm is proposed. Further, an automatic TMSP matching device is developed. Especially, an ingenious clamp for multiple constraints of TMSB is presented and a visual/magnetism/force hybrid control strategy is realized for the safe and efficient manipulation of TMSBs in a magnetic environment. Moreover, with the TMSBs of a pendulum accelerometer, the matching experiments are conducted to validate the comprehensive performance. The result of the numerical experiment shows that the Kuhn-Munkres algorithm-based method is stable and efficient. The results of measurement and TMSP matching experiments show that the device has good repeatability (<1 mT) and practicability. The proposed matching method has great application prospect in various matching and microassembly of TMSPs.

Estimation of pullulan by hydrolysis with pullulanase.

A novel method for the estimation of pullulan was developed in which pullulan was hydrolysed by pullulanase. The hydrolysed product was mainly maltotriose and was determined colorimetrically using 3,5-dimethylsalicylic acid. This gave good linearity with respect to the concentration of pullulan in the fermentation broth. The content of pullulan determined in this way was less than that determined by a coupled enzyme assay and was comparable to that determined by an HPLC method. The new method was specific for estimation of pullulan, demonstrated high accuracy, and could assay pullulan from up to 3.2 mg/ml.

HOXA5 overexpression promotes osteosarcoma cell apoptosis through the p53 and p38α MAPK pathway.

Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. Aberrant expression of HOXA5 results in various diseases, including cancers. However, the specific function and molecular mechanism of HOXA5 in osteosarcoma is not fully understood. In the present study, we focused on HOXA5 in U2OS and MG63 cells in vitro. We observed lower expression of HOXA5 in U2OS, MG63, and SaOS2 human osteosarcoma cells, compared with hFOB1.19 human osteoblastic cells. HOXA5 overexpression in U2OS and MG63 cells markedly reduced cell survival and proliferation and elevated cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activity. HOXA5 also activated the p38α MAPK pathway by increasing p53. Treating U2OS and MG63 cells with the p53 inhibitor α-pifithrin or the p38α MAPK inhibitor SB203580 led to higher cell survival and proliferation and lower cell apoptosis, compared with the pcDNA3.1-HOXA5 group. In conclusion, our study showed that the p53 and p38α MAPK signal axis facilitated HOXA5's role in inhibiting growth and stimulating apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells.

Genome-wide miRNAs expression profiles of Schistosoma japonicum schistosomula in response to artesunate.

AIM: miRNAs play a significant role in pharmacogenomics and are likely to be important in the molecular mechanism of atesunate (ART) effects on Schistosoma japonicum. METHODS: We sequenced the RNAs using an Illumina (Solexa) DNA sequencer and compared the relative expression levels of the miRNAs in 10-day-old schistosomula from ART and the parallel control group. RESULTS: We characterized 95 known miRNAs from S. japonicum schistosomula individuals, including 38 novel miRNA families. Among the detectable 134 miRNAs differentially expressed (>2.0-fold change, p < 0.01) after ART treatment in schistosomula, a total of seven known or novel 3p- or 5p- derived S. japonicum miRNAs were characterized. We propose that sja-miR-125b may regulate the expression of ART metabolizing enzymes, glutathione synthetase or heme-binding protein 2 to help S. japonicum resists or adapts to drug stress and also ART may significantly inhibit sexual maturation of female worms mediated by mir-71b/2 miRNA cluster. CONCLUSION: This was the first comprehensive miRNAs expression profile analysis of S. japonicum in response to ART, and provides an overview of the complex network of the mechanism of action of ART on S. japonicum.

A new surveillance and response tool: risk map of infected Oncomelania hupensis detected by Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) from pooled samples.

Although schistosomiasis remains a serious health problem worldwide, significant achievements in schistosomiasis control has been made in the People's Republic of China. The disease has been eliminated in five out of 12 endemic provinces, and the prevalence in remaining endemic areas is very low and is heading toward elimination. A rapid and sensitive method for monitoring the distribution of infected Oncomelania hupensis is urgently required. We applied a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay targeting 28S rDNA for the rapid and effective detection of Schistosoma japonicum DNA in infected and prepatent infected O. hupensis snails. The detection limit of the LAMP method was 100 fg of S. japonicum genomic DNA. To promote the application of the approach in the field, the LAMP assay was used to detect infection in pooled samples of field-collected snails. In the pooled sample detection, snails were collected from 28 endemic areas, and 50 snails from each area were pooled based on the maximum pool size estimation, crushed together and DNA was extracted from each pooled sample as template for the LAMP assay. Based on the formula for detection from pooled samples, the proportion of positive pooled samples and the positive proportion of O. hupensis detected by LAMP of Xima village reached 66.67% and 1.33%, while those of Heini, Hongjia, Yangjiang and Huangshan villages were 33.33% and 0.67%, and those of Tuanzhou and Suliao villages were 16.67% and 0.33%, respectively. The remaining 21 monitoring field sites gave negative results. A risk map for the transmission of schistosomiasis was constructed using ArcMap, based on the positive proportion of O. hupensis infected with S. japonicum, as detected by the LAMP assay, which will form a guide for surveillance and response strategies in high risk areas.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP): early detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is a widespread zoonotic parasitic disease that occurs in both animals and humans. Traditional molecular assays are often difficult to perform, especially for the early diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infections. Here, we established a novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification targeting the 529 bp repeat element (529 bp-LAMP) to detect T. gondii DNA in blood samples of experimental mice infected with tachyzoites of the RH strain. FINDINGS: The assay was performed with Bst DNA polymerase at 65°C for 1 h. The detection limit of the 529 bp-LAMP assay was as low as 0.6 fg of T. gondii DNA. The sensitivity of this assay was 100 and 1000 fold higher than that of the LAMP targeting B1 gene (B1-LAMP) and nested PCR targeting 529 bp repeat element (529 bp-nested PCR), respectively. The specificity of the 529 bp-LAMP assay was determined using the DNA samples of Trypanosoma evansi, Plasmodium falciparum, Paragonimus westermani, Schistosoma japonicum, Fasciola hepatica and Angiostrongylus cantonensis. No cross-reactivity with the DNA of any parasites was found. The assay was able to detect T. gondii DNA in all mouse blood samples at one day post infection (dpi). CONCLUSIONS: We report the following findings: (i) The detection limit of the 529 bp-LAMP assay is 0.6 fg of T. gondii DNA; (ii) The assay does not involve any cross-reactivity with the DNA of other parasites; (iii) This is the first report on the application of the LAMP assay for early diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in blood samples from experimentally infected mice. Due to its simplicity, sensitivity and cost-effectiveness for common use, we suggest that this assay should be used as an early diagnostic tool for health control of toxoplasmosis.

Protective effect of DNA-mediated immunization with liposome-encapsulated GRA4 against infection of Toxoplasma gondii.

The dense granule protein 4 (GRA4) is a granular protein from Toxoplasma gondii, and is a candidate for vaccination against this parasite. In this study, the plasmid pcDNA3.1-GRA4 (pGRA4), encoding for the GRA4 antigen, was incorporated by the dehydration-rehydration method into liposomes composed of 16 mmol/L egg phosphatidylcholine (PC), 8 mmol/L dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), and 4 mmol/L 1,2-diodeoyl-3-(trimethylammonium) propane (DOTAP). C57BL/6 mice and BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly three times with liposome-encapsulated pGRA4 to determine whether DNA immunization could elicit a protective immune response to T. gondii. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of sera from immunized mice showed that liposome-encapsulated pGRA4 generated high levels of IgG antibodies to GRA4. Production of primary interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-2 in GRA4-stimulated splenocytes from vaccinated mice suggested a modulated Th1-type response. 72.7% of C57BL/6 mice immunized with liposome-encapsulated pGRA4 survived the challenge with 80 tissue cysts of ME49 strain, whereas C57BL/6 mice immunized with pGRA4 had only a survival rate of 54.5%. When immunized BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally challenged with 10(3) tachyzoites of the highly virulent RH strain, the survival time of mice immunized with liposome-encapsulated pGRA4 was markedly longer than that of other groups. Our observations show that liposome-encapsulated pGRA4 enhanced the protective effect against infection of T. gondii.