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Abstract Background Immunologically impaired individuals respond poorly to vaccines, highlighting the need for additional strategies to protect these vulnerable populations from COVID-19. While monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have emerged as promising tools to manage infectious diseases, the transient lifespan of neutralizing mAbs in patients limits their ability to confer lasting, passive prophylaxis from SARS-CoV-2. Here, we attempted to solve this problem by combining cell and mAb engineering in a way that provides durable immune protection against viral infection using safe and universal cell therapy. Methods Mouse embryonic stem cells equipped with our FailSafe™ and induced allogeneic cell tolerance technologies were engineered to express factors that potently neutralize SARS-CoV-2, which we call ‘neutralizing biologics’ (nBios). We subcutaneously transplanted the transgenic cells into mice and longitudinally assessed the ability of the cells to deliver nBios into circulation. To do so, we quantified plasma nBio concentrations and SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing activity over time in transplant recipients. Finally, using similar cell engineering strategies, we genetically modified FailSafe™ human-induced pluripotent stem cells to express SARS-CoV-2 nBios. Results Transgenic mouse embryonic stem cells engineered for safety and allogeneic-acceptance can secrete functional and potent SARS-CoV-2 nBios. As a dormant, subcutaneous tissue, the transgenic cells and their differentiated derivatives long-term deliver a supply of protective nBio titers in vivo. Moving toward clinical relevance, we also show that human-induced pluripotent stem cells, similarly engineered for safety, can secrete highly potent nBios. Conclusions Together, these findings show the promise and potential of using ‘off-the-shelf’ cell products that secrete neutralizing antibodies for sustained protective immunity against current and future viral pathogens of public health significance.

Abstract Coloring and identification procedures for medical devices are important to reduce the risks of defective medical devices or incorrect operations and implantations. The study herein reports a novel platform of color pigment‐modified Parylene coatings to fulfill the needs of medical coatings, providing a surface modification route to alter the important property of color for an underlying material and/or device from its original color. Modification with a naphthalimide derivative is employed for the Parylene precursor. The synthesis of the final color Parylene coating is performed based on a vapor‐phase deposition polymerization process, and the coating is conformally coated on a variety of materials regardless of the shape or dimension. Furthermore, control of the color to create a series of color‐changing Parylene coatings is enabled by vapor deposition copolymerization with a second Parylene derivative source, and predictable color tuning from a primary to a secondary and/or tertiary color is achievable in the experiments and shows accordance with color theory. The reported coating platform represents a colored coating tool and is biocompatible for biotechnological applications.

Abstract Vapor deposition of polymers is known to result in densified thin films, and recent developments have advanced these polymers with interesting fabrication techniques to a variety of controlled structures other than thin films. With the advantages of chemical modification and functionalization of these polymers, advancements have combined both the physical and chemical properties of these vapor-deposited polymers to obtain controlled anisotropic polymers, including layer-by-layer, gradient, hierarchical, porosity, and the combination of the above, meaning that the produced polymers are functional and are addressed in devised physical configurations and chemical compositions. The main purpose of using polymer coatings as a tool for surface modification is to provide additional properties that decouple the natural properties of the underlying materials (including metals, polymers, oxides/ceramics, glass, silicon, etc.), and recent advancements have rendered novel insights into combined physical and chemical properties to fulfill the increasing needs of sophisticated requirements of materials for users. The review herein intends to deliver messages of recent progress of the advancements of vapor-deposited polymers, with discussions of the variations of the physical structures and chemical functionalities, and how these two aspects are integrated with novel fabrication techniques. The advanced vapor polymers now have the capability of controlled anisotropy in the physical structure and chemical composition and are expected to pave the way for interface engineering toward prospective material designs. Table of content: 1. Introduction 2. Fabrication and Materials 3. Controls of Anisotropy 4. Applications 5. Conclusions and Outlook

Abstract Designing a successful biological interface for a biomaterial requires the application of concepts from multiple fields, including materials science, surface science, nanoscience, physics, and biochemistry. With current biomaterials, such as polymers, ceramics, and natural materials, the original inherent properties of these materials no longer suffice for the needs of advanced and stringent biotechnological and medical applications that require controlled precision of physical and biochemical properties. Thus, the development of surface modifications to provide coatings that alter the interface properties of the original materials is pursued with much success to render desired and sophisticated interfacial properties. With acknowledging the available processing materials and fabrication techniques of the biointerface coatings, perspectives from advanced achievements in both physical and biochemical properties of the coating interfaces, and anisotropic presentations of these properties such as gradient of specific properties, the control of interface properties in confined micro/nanodomains and/or in introduced topographical geometries to mimic relevant biological activities is discussed in depth. The mentioned interface properties and the intended interactions toward biological microenvironments in vitro and in vivo are reviewed. Future prospective biointerface coatings with combinatorial and complementary properties from the discussed disciplines are suggested by the authors’ opinions. Last, challenges of current works demonstrating practical and important applications are discussed.

Surface modification of hemocompatible copolymers on silicone elastomers (SEs) is crucial for the long-term use of medical devices. Both physical adsorption and chemical conjugation are important for modification of SE. Oxygen plasma treatment is widely used to produce silanol groups on SE for silane coupling. However, the plasma reaction is difficult to apply to the surface modification of three-dimensional complex devices. This study demonstrated an appropriate and efficient method with alkaline solution for producing silanol groups on SE for modifying phosphorylcholine-based copolymer with organosilane (cross-MPC copolymer). A 2.5 wt% aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) was effective in producing silanol groups and for coating the cross-MPC copolymer. Additionally, we successfully modified the cross-MPC copolymer on the inner surface of SE tubes after pretreatment with the 2.5 wt% KOH aqueous solution, and the copolymer film was coated homogeneously. The cross-MPC copolymer film on SE was stable for one month under fluidic condition with a shear stress of 3.2 Pa. The hollow fiber membrane with the polymer coating inhibited blood coagulation after one week implantation with extracorporeal circulation device using a goat. Therefore, pretreatment of SE using an alkaline solution is an appropriate method for producing silanol groups for coating the cross-MPC copolymer by silane-coupling reaction.

Objective: In cancer care management, patients or their family are usually responsible for continuing health care. Achieving this goal requires identification of their self-care needs. The purpose of this study is to explore the perception of self-care needs of adolescent cancer survivors. Methods: This study was conducted by the qualitative content analysis method. Participants were 19 adolescent childhood cancer survivors and six parents, nurses, physicians, and charity institution staff from children teaching hospitals in Iran. Participants were selected through purposeful sampling, and individual semistructured interviews were used for data collection. Graneheim and Lundman stages of content analysis were employed for data analysis. Data were managed with the MAXQDA10 software. Results: Content analysis revealed nine subcategories as follows: (1) nutritional protection, (2) prevention from infection, (3) prevention from physical damage, (4) control over cancer recurrence, (5) informational needs, (6) pain management, (7) releasing positive thoughts, (8) continuing routine life, and (9) family protection. The first six subthemes were related to protection against physical distress, and the final three ones were related to protection against psychological distress. These two categories form one theme: “protective self-care need” as an essential self-care need in adolescent cancer survivors. Conclusions: Pediatric and school health nurses can prepare strategies to meet these needs by providing effective informational and psychosocial supports, and healthcare providers are able to check periodically the status of survivors care to provide second or third level of care to prevent escalation and incidence of the adverse outcomes of the disease.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to examine the relationships of illness perception, self-care, self-efficacy, and self-care strategies and their effects on Chinese cancer patients' quality of life (QOL). Methods: Questionnaires include data on demographic characteristics, illness perception, symptom self-care activity, and QOL. A secondary analysis was conducted on a sample of ethnic Chinese breast-and-colon cancer patients (n = 159) to examine multivariate associations. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlational analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis were used to analyze quantitative data. Results: The hierarchical regression model explained 43% of variance in QOL. Perceived illness consequence, personal control, and performance functioning status were found to be significant predictors in the model. Comparisons between breast-and-colon cancer patients showed that colon cancer patients significantly perceived higher levels of chronicity and negativity toward cancer than breast cancer patients. Conversely, breast cancer patients had significantly higher level of QOL and efficacy in making decision. Stress and overwork were the common perceived causes of cancer reported by these patients. Conclusions: These findings suggest that improving self-care efficacy and positive personal control can improve Chinese cancer patients' QOL. Variation in illness perceptions of cancer by different types of cancer should be considered in cancer survivorship planning and patient education.

Objective: This paper summarizes the barriers and challenges in cancer care reported from a validation project of a self-management intervention handbook from Chinese-American cancer patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). Methods: Seven health-care providers (HCPs) and 16 Chinese-American cancer survivors with LEP were invited to validate a self-management intervention handbook through networking sampling method. Bilingual versions were developed and validated using the repeated translation process. Online and paper-based survey and interview were conducted to collect information on the perception of barriers and experiences on cancer care. Data were analyzed by the content analysis method. Results: The HCPs reported a bilingual self-management handbook which is useful and feasible for patient self-management. The challenges in giving cancer care to LEP patients included: patients do not engage in discussion, different cultural health beliefs, unable to speak to patients in their primary language, and patients are less likely to discuss emotional and social challenges during treatments. The common barriers and experiences during cancer care included: limited understanding about treatment/medication and side effects, language barriers such as unable to communicate to make the decision, unable to understand information related to resources and do not know what questions to ask, and do not know what to expect during their cancer treatment. Conclusions: The current findings highlight the need of cancer self-management support for culturally diverse LEP cancer patients. Further research can include applying the supportive intervention to all LEP cancer patients.

Cancer support group has been studied as an intervention to improve patient psychosocial well-being. The effectiveness of support groups among Asian breast cancer (BC) patients has been unclear and received limited attention to the evidence of its effectiveness. The social-cognitive processing theory underlies the principles of support groups and advocates that a positive, supportive social environment can improve cognitive processing. The purpose of this paper is to present an integrative review of research evidence on the effectiveness of cancer support groups with Asian BC patients. Empirical studies related to support group among Asian and Asian American BC patients published between 1982 and April 2014 are reviewed. There are 15 studies selected (12 from the Asian-Pacific region and 3 from Western countries). The review includes 1 qualitative study, 3 descriptive studies, 1 mixed method design, and 10 experimental or quasi-experimental studies. The support group intervention activities include psycho-educational program such as health education, problem-solving, and stress management. These studies support the effectiveness of support group in alleviating psychological distress and supporting quality of life of Asian BC women. Overall, there is limited research on the use and effectiveness of support groups with Asians cancer patients in Asia and in Western countries. Without accounting for Asian immigrants overseas, the Asian population is expected to grow from 4.3 to 5.3 billion by 2050. As cancer patients become more diverse due to global emigration, more rigorous studies examining the effectiveness of psychosocial intervention among transcultural cancer patients are needed.

Purpose/Objectives: To explore the cancer symptom experience, self-care strategies, and quality of life (QOL) among Chinese Americans during outpatient chemotherapy.Design: Descriptive, exploratory cohort study.Setting: An outpatient infusion unit at a public urban county medical center.Sample: 25 Chinese-speaking patients with cancer completed the study. Participants were first-generation immigrants with low levels of acculturation; 88% could not read English; 64% had an annual household income of less than $20,000.Methods: Participants completed a basic demographics data sheet, the Suinn-Lew Acculturation Scale, the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale and Self-Care Diary weekly for three weeks, and the Multidimensional QOL Scale-Cancer and Short-Form 36 Health Survey at the start and end of one chemotherapy cycle. Study instruments were translated into Chinese.Main Research Variables: Symptoms, self-care, QOL, and acculturation.Findings: Participants reported experiencing about 14 symptoms weekly. Lack of energy, hair loss, dry mouth, sleep difficulty, and loss of appetite were reported most frequently. On average, about two self-care strategies per symptom were reported and were low to moderate in effectiveness. About 20% of the sample listed Chinese medicine as part of their self-care strategies. A moderate level of QOL was reported.Conclusions: Using translated standardized questionnaires can be a feasible method of data collection in studies with non-English-speaking patients. However, having well-trained, bilingual data collectors is important. More attention to long-term cancer self-management in minority patients with cancer is needed.Implications for Nursing: Further research is needed with larger samples, more efficient community-based recruitment strategies, and the development and testing of culturally sensitive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with HIV/AIDS are a vulnerable group whose symptoms can seriously affect their quality of life. HIV/AIDS symptoms can result from the disease itself, from secondary complications of the disease, or from side-effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and other medications related to comorbidities. HIV symptoms are the single most important indicators for patients and practitioners. Symptoms prompt patients to seek medical attention and provide health care providers with essential clues about changes in health status and quality of life. Despite increased recognition of the importance of addressing symptoms among people with HIV/AIDS, few studies have examined the management of HIV symptoms. This chapter introduces HIV symptoms, reports on the methods of review, provides an overview of contextual issues including the literature on symptoms, issues related to symptom measures, theoretical foundations on symptom management, HIV-specific measures, non-HIV-specific measures, translation of findings into practice, and implications for future research and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self-care practice of HIV/AIDS patients has become an important topic to help HIV/AIDS patients maintain their maximum level of well-being in chronic illness management. This article presents a self-care outcomes model that is applicable to HIV/AIDS nursing practice and research, and it identifies attributes and outcomes related to HIV/AIDS patients 'self-care. The self-care outcomes model was developed based on the Outcomes Model for Health Care Research and literature review. Key variables related to HIV/AIDS self-care were summarized and discussed based on nine dimensions: client inputs, client processes, client outcomes, provider inputs, provider processes, provider outcomes, setting inputs, setting processes, and setting outcomes. This article reveals that self-care in HIV/AIDS is complex and may be influenced by many factors relating to individual, family, and health care system. More research with advanced multivariate statistical models and randomized controlled trial design will help determine the effectiveness of self-care strategies and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the self-care practices used to manage the symptom cluster of fear and anxiety experienced by people living with HIV disease. Frequency and correlates of self-reported anxiety and fear and the self-care behaviors used to manage these symptoms; Role that self-care practices play in determining health outcomes in chronic illness, research on the self-management of HIV/AIDS-related anxiety and fear; Categories of self-care behaviors for managing anxiety and fear.

Purpose/Objectives: To identify when fatigue is reported as a problem by people who are HIV positive, what the perception of fatigue is, and which self-care behaviors are used and with what efficacy. Design: Multisite descriptive study. Setting: University-based AIDS clinics, community-based organizations, and homecare agencies located in cities across the United States, in Norway, and through a university Web site. Sample: Convenience sample of 422 self-identified people who are HIV positive. Main Research Variables: Symptom description, symptom relief, symptom help, and self-care strategies. Findings: The sixth most reported symptom in this study, fatigue, was treated with a variety of self-designed strategies. In only three instances was consultation with a healthcare provider (i.e., physician) or an injection (medication not defined) mentioned. The most frequently used interventions were supplements, vitamins, and nutrition followed by sleep and rest; exercise; adjusting activities, approaches, and thoughts; distraction; and complementary and alternative therapies. In addition to self-designed strategies, the media and friends and family were sources of information. Conclusions: Fatigue was reported less frequently in this study than in other HIV-, AIDS-, or cancer-related studies. This may be an artifact of the study design. The use of informal networks for assistance, let alone the prevalence of unrelieved fatigue, indicates the need for more attention to this problem among people with AIDS. Implications for Nursing: Careful assessment of the pattern of fatigue and its onset, duration, intervention, and resolution is required if the varied types of fatigue are to be... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]