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Underground power cables are prone to electrical tree aging and additives loss due to the harsh working environment. In this work, the thermal aged cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cables were restored by injecting a newly synthesized voltage stabilizer containing hydrolyzable siloxane groups. The voltage stabilizer functionalized siloxane groups greatly enhanced the electrical tree initiation voltage, significantly reduced the direct current (DC) conductivity and dielectric loss factor. The results of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) indicated that the voltage stabilizer molecules were distributed in the electrical tree channels of the restored cables. After secondary thermal aging at 150 °C for 360 h, the characteristic electrical tree initiation voltage of the restored cable reached 12.10 kV, which was 66.90% higher than that of the unrestored cable. This indicated that the migration of voltage stabilizers could be inhibited by introducing hydrolyzable groups. This investigation provided a new approach to improve the migration resistance of the voltage stabilizer and the inhibitory effect of the rejuvenation liquid on the electrical tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inferior epigastric vascular anatomical landmarks for anterior inguinal hernia repair is an alternative surgical procedure. We present our experience and outcome of the way.Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 230 patients who received anterior tension-free hernia repair between May 2016 to May 2017. Among these cases, 120 were performed using the traditional transinguinal preperitoneal (TTIPP) technique while 100 were performed using the vascular anatomic landmark transinguinal preperitoneal (VALTIPP) technique. Between these two groups, we compared the operation time, length of hospital stay, complication rates, and the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain at 2 days, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery.Results: Surgery was well-tolerated in both groups with no significant hemorrhage or complications. The operation times for the VALTIPP and TTIPP groups were 42.52 ± 9.15 and 53.84 ± 10.64 min (P < 0.05), respectively. Ten patients in the VALTIPP group and 17 patients in the TTIPP group reported sensations of foreign bodies (P < 0.05). The VAS pain score in VALTIPP patients at 2 days (4.0 ± 0.5), 3 months (1.0 ± 0.3), and 6 months (0.9 ± 0.3) were significantly lower when compared with those of TTIPP patients (5.3 ± 0.9 at 2 days, 1.8 ± 0.4 at 3 months, and 1.1 ± 0.1 at 6 months, p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in age, gender, BMI, hernia type and location, follow-up period, incidence of post-operative seromas, recurrence rate, or length of hospital stay.Conclusion: Anterior inguinal hernia repair using inferior epigastric vascular anatomical landmarks may lead to reduced operation times, reduced sensations of foreign bodies, and reduced post-operative pain. This technique is simple, practical, and effective in the management of inguinal hernias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This commentary presents a virtual special issue on the global growth of community psychology (CP), particularly, but not exclusively, as reflected in the American Journal of Community Psychology (AJCP). CP exists in at least 50 countries all over the world, in many of those for over 25 years. Yet, aside from several early Israeli articles, AJCP rarely published work from or about countries outside the US and Canada until the early 2000s, when the number of international articles began to rise sharply. The focus of CP developed differently in different continents. CP in Australia and New Zealand initially followed North America's emphasis on improving social service systems, but has since focused more on environmental and indigenous cultural and decolonial issues that are as salient in those countries as in North America, but have drawn much more attention. CP came later to most of Asia, where it also tended to follow the North American path, but starting in Japan, India, and Hong Kong and now in China and elsewhere, it is establishing its own way. The other two global hotspots for CP for over 40 years have been Europe and Latin America. The level and focus of CP in Europe varies in each country, with some focused on applied developmental psychology and/or community services and others advancing critical and liberation psychology. CP in Latin America evolved from social psychology, but like CP in Sub‐Saharan Africa, is also more explicitly political due to a history of political oppression, social activism, and the limitations of individualistic psychology to focus on social change, overcoming poverty, and interventions by (not just for) community members. Despite those differences, CP literature over the past 23 years suggests an increasingly common interest in social justice, multinational collaborations, and decoloniality. There is still a need for more truly (bidirectional) cross‐cultural, comparative work for mutual learning, sharing of ideas, methods, and intervention practices, and for CP to develop in countries and communities throughout the globe where it could have the greatest impact. Highlights: Presents a special issue on global growth of international community psychology (CP) in relation to American Journal of Community Psychology.CP in Europe focused most on applied development, services, and critical and liberation psychology.CP in Latin America, Africa, Oceania studied social justice, indigenous cultural, & decolonial issues.CP came later to Asia, starting in Japan, India, Hong Kong, & Thailand, now in China & Central Asia.CP needs more international cross‐cultural, comparative work, & sharing of ideas, methods & practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria can easily adhere on the surface of implants and subsequently form biofilm which lead to serious critical issues in the application. In the current work, poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was firstly modified with dopamine (dopa) into dopa-PAA and was self-assembled with poly(ethylenimine)-AgNO 3 (PEI-AgNO 3 ) into multilayer films via layer-by-layer self-assembly technique. AgNO 3 were in situ reduced into silver nano particles (Ag NPs) in the process of multilayer film self-assembling using bio-inspired dopa as reducing agent. The morphology of the Ag NPs was characterized using transmission electron microscopy. In vitro , the (dopa-PAA/PEI-Ag NPs) n multilayer films showed a long-term sustained release of Ag + in PBS buffer. Zone of inhibition assays and the bacterial LIVE/DEAD staining methods demonstrated the high efficient and long-term bactericidal properties of the multilayer films. For the in vivo subcutaneous antibacterial tests in New Zealand white rabbits, the wound appearance and the histopathology analysis showed that implantation of the antibacterial coating modified PDMS promoted wound healing and showed good anti-inflammatory effect. The multilayer films also proved to be low cytotoxicity towards human lens epithelial cells, which can potentially be widely used to modify biomedical implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The management of the hernia sac is the core step of laparoscopic indirect inguinal hernioplasty. In this study, a randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the clinical effect of laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal herniorrhaphy (TEP) with hernia sac transection and complete sac reduction.Method: From May 2017 to May 2018, 70 patients aged 18-75 with primary indirect inguinal hernia in our hospital were randomly divided into a transected sac group (TS) and a completely reduced sac group (RS). The primary outcomes compared between the two groups were the hernia sac treatment time, operation time, and the incidence of seroma formation after operation. Secondary outcomes included acute pain, chronic pain (pain which lasted for at least 3 months), hospital stay, recurrence rate, and other complications.Result: There were no significant differences in baseline demographic characteristics including age, sex, hernia type, size of hernia defect, and follow-up time between the two groups. The times required for hernia sac separation and operation in the TS group were significantly shorter than in the control group (6.1 ± 2.3 vs. 25 ± 5.8 min for hernia sac separation, p < 0.01; and 35.10 ± 3.50 vs. 54.40 ± 4.20 min for operation, p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in hospitalization time, incidence of acute pain, seroma formation, or urinary retention between the two groups. During the 12-month follow-up period, chronic pain, early recurrence, and other complications were not found in either group.Conclusion: Both the hernia sac transection technique and the complete sac reduction technique are safe and reliable. The hernia sac transection technique is a simple and effective hernia sac treatment method. It reduces the operation time and does not increase seroma or acute or chronic pain. It is valuable and likely to be popularly applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) inguinal hernioplasty with or without mesh fixation on chronic pain and quality of life of patients.Methods: One hundred patients with a simple oblique inguinal hernia were included and treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from July of 2015 to July of 2016. Patients were randomly assigned to TAPP inguinal hernioplasty with mesh fixation (fixation group, n = 50) or without mesh fixation (non-fixation group, n = 50). Observation indices such as mean operative time, time to ambulation, hospitalization expense, and complications were recorded. The visual analog scale (VAS) was adopted for pain evaluation 2 days, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. The 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) was adopted for life quality scoring 3 months postoperatively.Results: No recurrence or incisional infections were observed during follow-up in either group. The mean operative time, time to ambulation, and hospitalization expense of the non-fixation group were all significantly reduced compared to those of the fixation group. The VAS score 2 days, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively of the non-fixation group were significantly lower than in the fixation group. The physical function, role physical, bodily pain, and general health in the non-fixation group were each significantly higher than in the fixation group. In contrast, vitality, social function, role emotional, and mental health showed no significant differences across groups.Conclusions: For patients with primary unilateral oblique inguinal hernia with a defect size less than 4.0 cm in diameter, TAPP inguinal hernioplasty without mesh fixation was safe and effective. Furthermore, this shortened the operative time, promoted early ambulation, decreased hospitalization expenses, alleviated postoperative pain, and improved quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial infection is one of the most serious problems in the field of medical devices, particularly in implants. Herein, we have designed and constructed a (mucin/poly(ethyleneimine)) n ((mucin/PEI) n ) multilayer film using a layer-by-layer self-assembly method and the grafting of antimicrobial peptides to enhance the bactericidal efficacy. Water contact angle measurements and atomic force microscopy images revealed that the hydrated multilayer film created a highly hydrophilic surface with a low roughness. The functionalized polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surfaces were shown to be effective in preventing bovine serum albumin (BSA) adsorption and in reducing bacterial adhesion. Bactericidal activity of the (mucin/PEI) n -nisin coatings, measured by scanning electron microscopy and a LIVE/DEAD bacterial viability kit, was remarkably effective against S. aureus owing to the grafting of nisin. In vivo subcutaneous incisions were made in New Zealand white rabbits and were implanted with multilayer-film-modified and uncoated PDMS. Both the evaluation of the appearance of the wound and the histopathology analysis demonstrated that implantation of the antibacterial-coating-modified PDMS promoted wound healing and showed an anti-inflammatory effect. The multilayer film proved to be nontoxic towards human lens epithelial cells, which can potentially be widely used to modify biomedical implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel dual-encoder architecture is introduced to extract feature representation. • To our knowledge, we are the first to investigate the proposed VAE model. • We present a novel method to initialize the priors estimated in the VAE module. • Proposed approach will help medical industry utilize knowledge from public datasets. Deep learning-based methods have recently demonstrated outstanding performance on general image classification tasks. As optimization of these methods is dependent on a large amount of labeled data, their application in medical image classification is limited. To address this issue, we propose PFEMed, a novel few-shot classification method for medical images. To extract general and specific features from medical images, this method employs a dual-encoder structure, that is, one encoder with fixed weights pre-trained on public image classification datasets and another encoder trained on the target medical dataset. In addition, we introduce a novel prior-guided Variational Autoencoder (VAE) module to enhance the robustness of the target feature, which is the concatenation of the general and specific features. Then, we match the target features extracted from both the support and query medical image samples and predict the category attribution of the query examples. Extensive experiments on several publicly available medical image datasets show that our method outperforms current state-of-the-art few-shot methods by a wide margin, particularly outperforming MetaMed on the Pap smear dataset by over 2.63%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laparoscopic hernia repair has been shown to be superior to open surgery, and it has become the preferred method for treating inguinal hernia. However, the advantages and disadvantages of laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) and totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair—the two most commonly used methods—remain controversial. Most studies of these two operation methods do not clearly present the pros and cons; only studies of curative effects or postoperative complications have provided comparisons. As techniques for laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair continue to be developed and reported in the literature, a meta-analysis might be able to reliably determine the efficacy of different methods. This analysis aims to provide a reliable basis for surgeons and patients to choose between surgical methods. To this end, we retrieved literature that compared TAPP and TEP in terms of the operation time, length of postoperative hospital stay, perioperative complications (surgery change, bleeding, visceral injury), early postoperative complications (seroma, mouth infection, urinary retention), late postoperative complications (recurrence, chronic pain), and resume normal work time. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CNKI were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing TAPP and TEP prior to December 15, 2020. Retrieved papers were screened according to established criteria, and those with a quality score of ≥ 4 were included. The papers’ data were extracted, and subgroup analysis of hernia type was performed. Data related to the main comparative results (e.g., operation time, length of postoperative hospital stay, intraoperative complications, postoperative seroma) were recorded. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3. Registration number: CRD42021233107; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO). A total of 2038 papers were retrieved, and 18 were finally included. Among them, 12,746 patients received TEP, and 14,000 received TAPP. Meta-analysis results showed that TEP reduced the length of postoperative hospital stay compared to TAPP (MD: 8.87; 95% CI: 2.28–15.46; p = 0.008). TEP reduced the incidence of postoperative incision infection compared to TAPP (OR: 2.36; 95% CI: 1.19–4.66; p = 0.01). TAPP reduced the incidence of postoperative seroma compared to TEP (OR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.50–0.91; p = 0.009). TAPP and TEP are both good surgical methods with their own advantages andisadvantages. TEP can shorten postoperative hospital stay and reduce the postoperative incision infection rate, while TAPP can reduce the incidence of postoperative seroma. In general, the choice between TAPP and TEP should be made jointly by the surgeon and the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuproptosis is a regulated form of cell death induced by the accumulation of metal ions and is closely linked to aspects of cellular drug resistance, cellular metabolism, and signalling pathways. Due to its crucial role in regulating physiological and pathological processes, cuproptosis has gained increasing significance as a potential target for anticancer drug development. In this review, we introduce the definition of cuproptosis and provide a comprehensive discussion of the mechanisms of cuproptosis. In addition, the methods for the detection of cuproptosis are summarized, and recent advances in cuproptosis in cancer therapy are reviewed, mainly in terms of elesclomol (ES)-mediated cuproptosis and disulfiram (DSF)-mediated cuproptosis, which provided practical value for applications. Finally, the current challenges and future development of cuproptosis-mediated cancer therapy are discussed. In summary, this review highlights recent progress on cuproptosis in cancer therapy, offering novel ideas and strategies for future research and applications.

Background: The clinical benefit of preoperative oral nutritional supplements (ONS) in patients undergoing surgery for gastrointestinal cancer remains controversial., Objective: To evaluate the effect of preoperative ONS on postoperative clinical outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal cancer., Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for randomized controlled trials evaluating preoperative ONS in patients undergoing surgery for gastrointestinal cancer from inception until April 2024. Two researchers independently assessed the quality of the included literature and performed statistical analyses using Review Manager 5.4 software., Results: A total of 12 eligible studies with 1201 patients (600 ONS group and 601 control group) were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with a normal diet, preoperative ONS effectively reduced infectious complications (odds ratio = 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40-0.98; P = .04), white blood cell count (mean difference [MD] = -0.66; 95% CI, -1.04 to -0.28; P = .0007), C-reactive protein (MD = -0.26; 95% CI, -0.33 to -0.19; P < .00001), and markedly improved albumin levels (MD = 1.71; 95% CI, 0.97-2.46; P < .00001), prealbumin (MD = 24.80; 95% CI, 1.72-47.88; P = .04), immunoglobulin G (MD = 0.86; 95% CI, 0.44-1.28; P < .00001), CD4 T lymphocyte cells (MD = 3.06; 95% CI, 2.21-3.92; P < .00001), and CD4 T lymphocyte cells/CD8 T lymphocyte cells (MD = 0.33; 95% CI, 0.10-0.56; P = .004). However, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of noninfectious complications (odds ratio = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.39-1.53; P = .46), immunoglobulin A (MD = -0.21; 95% CI, -0.44 to 0.02; P = .08) or length of hospital stay (MD = -0.04; 95% CI, -0.71 to 0.64; P = .92)., Conclusion: Preoperative ONS may effectively reduce postoperative infectious complications, improve postoperative nutritional status and immune function, and relieve the inflammatory response in gastrointestinal cancer patients. Therefore, we recommend that preoperative nutrition could be optimized with ONS in patients undergoing gastrointestinal cancer surgery., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Purpose: The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in colon cancer remains unclear. This trial investigated whether 3 months of modified infusional fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6) or capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) as NAC could improve outcomes in patients with locally advanced colon cancer versus upfront surgery., Patients and Methods: OPTICAL was a randomized, phase III trial in patients with clinically staged locally advanced colon cancer (T3 with extramural spread into the mesocolic fat ≥5 mm or T4). Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive six preoperative cycles of mFOLFOX6 or four cycles of CAPOX, followed by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC group), or immediate surgery and the physician's choice of adjuvant chemotherapy (upfront surgery group). The primary end point was 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) assessed in the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population., Results: Between January 2016 and April 2021, of the 752 patients enrolled, 744 patients were included in the mITT analysis (371 in the NAC group; 373 in the upfront surgery group). At a median follow-up of 48.0 months (IQR, 46.0-50.1), 3-year DFS rates were 82.1% in the NAC group and 77.5% in the upfront surgery group (stratified hazard ratio [HR], 0.74 [95% CI, 0.54 to 1.03]). The R0 resection was achieved in 98% of patients who underwent surgery in both groups. Compared with upfront surgery, NAC resulted in a 7% pathologic complete response rate (pCR), significantly lower rates of advanced tumor staging (pT3-4: 77% v 94%), lymph node metastasis (pN1-2: 31% v 46%), and potentially improved overall survival (stratified HR, 0.44 [95% CI, 0.25 to 0.77])., Conclusion: NAC with mFOLFOX6 or CAPOX did not show a significant DFS benefit. However, this neoadjuvant approach was safe, resulted in substantial pathologic downstaging, and appears to be a viable therapeutic option for locally advanced colon cancer.

Objective: The study aimed to reinvestigate psychological mechanisms of the influence of construction workers' experience on hazard recognition performance, with signal detection theory (SDT) and electroencephalogram (EEG) readings., Background: Existing evidence regarding the effect of experience on hazard recognition performance in the construction industry remains inconsistent. Behavior-wise, identification of dominant hazard recognition factors (sensitivity or response bias, or both) would help determine appropriate training strategies to improve hazard recognition. In terms of neuro-responses, induced gamma-band activity was expected to reflect the cognitive functions mediating the psychological effects of experience., Method: Seventy-seven construction workers participated in a predesigned hazard recognition task, in which participants judged whether a hazard was present from a series of construction scenario pictures. We computed and compared the sensitivity and response bias of SDT and time-frequency representations of recorded EEG signals of the two experience-level groups., Results: Novice workers had higher hazard recognition rates. Behavior-wise, novices were more sensitive than more experienced workers. Compared with experienced workers, novices showed stronger gamma-band difference power (hazardous minus safe) in the left frontal and right posterior parietal areas during the hazard recognition process., Conclusion: Novices performed better at hazard recognition, indicating their sensitivity to the hazards without a clear difference in response bias. Based on the EEG data, novices' sensitivity may be attributed to more efficient working memory and attentional control., Application: There is a need for continuous refreshment of hazard recognition skills for experienced workers for safety interventions.

Traditional total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer requires partial resection of Denonvilliers' fascia (DVF), which leads to injury of pelvic autonomic nerve and postoperative urogenital dysfunction. It is still unclear whether entire preservation of DVF has better urogenital function and comparable oncological outcomes. We conducted a randomized clinical trial to investigate the superiority of DVF preservation over resection (NCT02435758). A total of 262 eligible male patients were randomized to Laparoscopic TME with DVF preservation (L-DVF-P group) or resection procedures (L-DVF-R group), 242 of which completed the study, including 122 cases of L-DVF-P and 120 cases of L-DVF-R. The initial analysis of the primary outcomes of urogenital function has previously been reported. Here, the updated analysis and secondary outcomes including 3-year survival (OS), 3-year disease-free survival (DFS), and recurrence rate between the two groups are reported for the modified intention-to-treat analysis, revealing no significant difference. In conclusion, L-DVF-P reveals better postoperative urogenital function and comparable oncological outcomes for male rectal cancer patients., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Expression of concern for 'Bacterial infection microenvironment-responsive enzymatically degradable multilayer films for multifunctional antibacterial properties' by Qingqing Yao et al. , J. Mater. Chem. B , 2017, 5 , 8532-8541, https://doi.org/10.1039/C7TB02114C.

Objective: The problems and challenges encountered by Chinese medical institutions in implementing the national centralized drug procurement was investigated and analyzed in order to provide reference for the regulatory agencies to formulate policies. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect the problems encountered by 329 Chinese medical institutions in implementing the national centralized drug procurement and the corresponding suggestions provided by relevant experts. Statistical analysis was performed to identify differences in the themes and the number of collected problems, further revealing the relevance to the region in which the medical institutions is located. Result: 1360 problems and suggestions were collected from 329 Chinese medical institutions that located in North (19.15%), Northeast (5.78%), East (33.43%), Central (10.03%), South (9.73%), Southwest (14.89%), and Northwest China (6.99%). There was statistically significant difference in the number of collected problems and suggestions between regions ( p < 0.001). Furthermore, the content of gathered problems and suggestions involves in 15 themes including system construction, organizational system and work responsibilities, reasonable measurement and reporting of procurement volume et al. These themes that these medical institutions are focusing on are mainly centered on the supply guarantee (15%), reasonable measurement and reporting of procurement volume (11.40%) and guarantee measures for clinical priority use (9.48%) of drugs with national centralized procurement. Meanwhile, we found that problems regarding the supply guarantee of drugs with national centralized procurement displayed significant difference between regions ( p = 0.0096). Conclusion: Chinese medical institutions are facing great challenges in implementing the national centralized drug procurement. The scientific study and judgment of the current situation and the construction of corresponding solution require a precise classification of the problems encountered by medical institutions in the process of implementing the national centralized drug procurement policy, which is of great practical significance for deepening the reform of the medical and health system., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Zhang, Xu, Peng, Zhang, Chen, Wu, Yang, Luan and Liu.)

Objective To identify the key targets and molecular mechanisms of Sangbaipi decoction in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) by using network pharmacology. Methods The active components of Sangbaipi Decoction were searched in Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) database, with the corresponding targets predicted. The related targets of AECOPD were searched within gene banks, OMIM and Drugbank.The names of prediction targets and disease targets were standardized by UniProt, and the intersection targets were selected. TCM component target network diagram was drawn and analyzed by Cytoscape 3.6.0. The common targets were imported into the metascape database for gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, and molecular docking was carried out by using auto dock tools software. Results A total of 126 active ingredients in Sangbaipi decoction, 1351 predicted corresponding targets and 2296 disease-related targets were detected. The main active ingredients include quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, wogonin β. The core targets of sitosterol involve tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor protein p53 (TP53), mitogen activated protein kinase 8 (MAPK8) and MAPK14. A total of 2720 signals were obtained from GO enrichment analysis and 334 signal pathways were obtained from KEGG enrichment analysis. The molecular docking results showed that the main active components can bind to the core target, at a stable the binding conformation. Conclusion Sangbaipi decoction may have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and other biological effects through multiple active ingredients, multiple targets and signal pathways, thus effectively treating AECOPD.

Objective: To determine the morbidity, mortality, and pathologic outcomes of transanal total mesorectal resection (taTME) versus laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (laTME) among patients with rectal cancer with clinical stage I to III rectal cancer below the peritoneal reflection., Background: Studies with sufficient numbers of patients allowing clinical acceptance of taTME for rectal cancer are lacking. Thus, we launched a randomized clinical trial to compare the safety and efficacy of taTME versus laTME., Methods: A randomized, open-label, phase 3, noninferiority trial was performed at 16 different hospitals in 10 Chinese provinces. The primary endpoints were 3-year disease-free survival and 5-year overall survival. The morbidity and mortality within 30 days after surgery, and pathologic outcomes were compared based on a modified intention-to-treat principle; this analysis was preplanned., Results: Between April 13, 2016, and June 1, 2021, 1115 patients were randomized 1:1 to receive taTME or laTME. After exclusion of 26 cases, modified intention-to-treat set of taTME versus laTME groups included 544 versus 545 patients. There were no significant differences between taTME and laTME groups in intraoperative complications [26 (4.8%) vs 33 (6.1%); difference, -1.3%; 95% confidence interval (CI), -4.2% to 1.7%; P =0.42], postoperative morbidity [73 (13.4%) vs 66 (12.1%); difference, 1.2%; 95% CI, -2.8% to 5.2%; P =0.53), or mortality [1 (0.2%) vs 1 (0.2%)]. Successful resection occurred in 538 (98.9%) versus 538 (98.7%) patients in taTME versus laTME groups (difference, 0.2%; 95% CI, -1.9% to 2.2%; P >0.99)., Conclusions: Experienced surgeons can safely perform taTME in selected patients with rectal cancer., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background/aims: The increased mortality of gastric cancer (GC) is mainly attributed to the development of chemoresistance. Circular RNAs, as the novel type of biomarkers in GC, have attracted wide attention. The purpose of this study was to investigate the functional role of circ&#95;0081143 in GC with doxorubicin (DR) resistance and its potential action mechanism., Methods: The expression of circ&#95;0081143, miR-129-2-3p and YES proto-oncogene 1 (YES1) in GC tissues and cells was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The half maximal inhibitory concentration value was calculated based on the MTT cell viability assay. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were monitored by MTT and flow cytometry assays. Transwell assays were employed to check cell migration and invasion. The protein levels of YES1 and apoptosis-related proteins were detected by western blotting. The interaction between miR-129-2-3p and circ&#95;0081143 or YES1 was verified by dual-luciferase reporter and pull-down assays. A tumorigenicity assay was conducted to verify the role of circ&#95;0081143 in vivo., Results: Circ&#95;0081143 was highly expressed in DR-resistant GC tumor tissues and cells. Depletion of circ&#95;0081143 reduced DR resistance and inhibited DR-resistant GC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Circ&#95;0081143 targeted miR-129-2-3p and inhibited the role of miR-129-2-3p. In addition, YES1 was a target of miR-129-2-3p, and its function was suppressed by miR-129-2-3p. Importantly, circ&#95;0081143 positively modulated the expression of YES1 through mediating miR-129-2-3p. Circ&#95;0081143 knockdown weakened the DR-resistant GC tumor growth in vivo., Conclusions: Circ&#95;0081143 knockdown weakened DR resistance and blocked the development of DR-resistant GC by regulating the miR-129-2-3p/YES1 axis. Our data suggest that circ&#95;0081143 is a promising target for the treatment of GC with DR resistance.

Background: To summarise data from previous reports and perform a meta-analysis to compare the short-term surgical outcomes and post-operative recovery between single-incision and multi-port laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (MLDG) for gastric cancer., Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed and Embase databases and relevant data were extracted. Short-term surgical outcomes and post-operative recovery of single-incision laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (SLDG) and MLDG for gastric cancer were compared using a fixed or random-effect model., Results: In total, we identified five relevant studies involving 983 participants for this systematic review and meta-analysis, and 45.8% (450/983) of patients underwent SLDG. The results demonstrated that mean operation time (weighted mean difference [WMD]:-3.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.64,8.19, P = 0.580; I 2 = 75.6%), intra-operative blood loss (WMD:-19.77, 95% CI: 40.20,0.65, P = 0.058; I 2 = 85.0%) and lymph node yield (WMD:-0.71, 95% CI: 1.47, 0.05, P = 0.068; I 2 = 0%) of SLDG were comparable to those of MLDG for gastric cancer. In addition, SLDG had a similar incidence of post-operative complications compared with MLDG (odds ratio: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.55-1.22, P = 0.326; I 2 = 0%). There was no significant difference between the two surgical procedures for the conversion to open surgery (OR: 0.32, 95%CI: 0.03-3.15, P = 0.331; I 2 = 0%), the length of hospital stay (WMD:-0.05, 95% CI: 0.65, 0.55, P = 0.876; I 2 = 44.1%), the time to first flatus (WMD:-0.24, 95% CI: 0.58, 0.10, P = 0.169; I 2 = 85.3%) and the time to oral intake (WMD:-0.05, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.10, P = 0.500; I 2 = 0%)., Conclusion: Single-incision laparoscopic gastrectomy may be technically feasible and safe for gastric cancer. However, it did not show a more obvious advantage over MLDG., Competing Interests: None

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) has few or no symptoms and is often diagnosed at its end stage. Boeravinone B (BB) is a natural rotenoid which induces an antioxidative effect and has been used in cancer prevention. In this study, we scrutinized the chemoprotective effect of BB against 1,2dimethyl hydrazine (DMH) induced CRC in rats., Methods: Subcutaneous administration of DMH (40 mg/kg) was used for the induction of CRC in rats, followed by oral administration of BB. The body weight, tumor volume, tumor incidence, and total number of tumors were estimated in all rat groups rats except the normal group. Antioxidant parameters, phase I and II enzymes, and inflammatory cytokines and parameters were estimated at the completion of the study., Results: DMH induced group rats exhibited a tumor incidence of 100% along with several tumors/polyps per tumor‑bearing rat, while BB treatment remarkably suppressed the incidence of tumors and suppressed polyps per tumor bearing rat. BB treatment significantly (P<0.001) altered the level of antioxidant parameters, phase I and phase II enzymes, and cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10, and treatment significantly (P<0.001) suppressed the level of inflammatory cytokines, including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)., Conclusions: BB treatment considerably suppresses colon cancer via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanism., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jgo.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jgo-22-733/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2022 Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology. All rights reserved.)

The effectiveness of the multidisciplinary nursing model in the nursing of chronic kidney disease (CKD) by using meta-analysis is explored. Relevant literatures that are in line with the multidisciplinary nursing model for CKD intervention are searched and screened from domestic and foreign literature databases such as Wanfang Medical Center, CNKNET, VIP, and PubMed, and Meta-analysis is conducted with RevMan 5.2 software. A total of 6 literatures are included, and the publication bias of the included literatures is low. Meta-analysis shows that the multidisciplinary group had a better Hb compliance rate, Hb level, Scr, eGFR, SBP, and DBP than the traditional group. The experimental results show that multidisciplinary nursing intervention can improve the nursing effect of patients with CKD and help to improve Hb, Scr, blood pressure, and glomerular filtration function of patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Qinger Wang et al.)

Background: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a ciliopathy characterized by abnormal tubular epithelial proliferation and fluid secretion. Anoctamin 1 (ANO1) is a calcium-dependent chloride channel. However, how ANO1 contributes to ADPKD is largely unexplored., Methods: Kidney tissues from ADPKD patients, Pkd1RC/RC mice model, WT9-7 human PKD1+⁣/- cells, and 3D culture models in vitro were used. Localization of ANO1 and cilium length were investigated by confocal immunofluorescence., Results: We found that ANO1 was consistently upregulated in human and mouse PKD kidneys. Intriguingly, ANO1 located in a vesicle-like pattern at the ciliary base but not on the ciliary surface. ANO1 deficiency enhanced ciliogenesis and the ciliary dosage of polycystin-2 in human PKD cells, and reduced cyst formation in 3D culture models. Moreover, inhibition of ANO1 abolished the activation of STAT3 and ERK pathways in PKD cells., Conclusions: Our data indicate ANO1 is a negative regulator for both cilia length and cilia trafficking of polycystin-2 and provide mechanistic insights regarding the therapeutic potential of ANO1 pathway in ADPKD treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.)

While previous studies have extensively explored the neural mechanisms of perceptual decision-making, most of them used paradigms with limited real-life consequences and largely neglected participants' individual differences. In this study, to resemble a perceptual decision-making scenario with real-life consequences, construction workers were recruited for an occupational hazard recognition task by categorizing construction site images as hazardous or safe with their EEG recorded. Event-related potential (ERP) analysis revealed distinct influences of perceptual decision-making by two dispositional factors of risk propensity and injury exposure experience. Risk propensity was positively correlated with the stimulus-locked difference waveforms (hazardous minus safe) at approximately 200 ms post-stimuli-onset over right-lateralized parietal-occipital areas. The difference waveforms showed reversed polarity between groups with high and low-risk propensity. Injury exposure experience was negatively correlated with the response-locked difference waveforms approximately 450 ms before motor response over right-lateralized parietal-occipital regions. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report how individuals' injury exposure experience influenced the neural signatures of one's perceptual decision-making. These results extended previous findings for perceptual decision-making by setting up a scenario with high ecological validity and suggested possibly substantial different mechanisms for individual workers by the intrinsic factor of risk propensity and the extrinsic factor of injury exposure experience., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: In some cases, laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) may be very difficult and easily converted to laparotomy, causing many complications to patients and prolonging the prognosis time. Thus, to evaluate the difficulty of LC before operation is extremely important., Aim: To explore the risk factors of difficult cholecystectomy (DC) and to establish a risk prediction model of DC., Material and Methods: The data of 201patients who underwent cholecystectomy from 1 January 2018 to 10 November 2019 were analysed retrospectively. The highest quartile (P75) of cholecystectomy operation time was used as a cutting point of DC (≥ P75) and NLC (< P75). Logistic regression was used to analyse the influencing factors of DC, and its risk model was constructed for prediction., Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m 2 , white blood cell (WBC) > 10 × 10 9 /l, calculus incarcerated in neck of gallbladder, frequency of acute cholecystitis in the last 2 months > 4 times, thickness of gallbladder wall > 0.5 cm, and maximum diameter of gallstone > 2 cm were independent risk factors for DC. The prediction efficiency of the logistic regression equation was 0.879 ( χ 2 = 1.457, p > 0.05)., Conclusions: Based on analysis of risk factors, a logistic risk prediction model for difficult cholecystectomy was established. This model can be used to predict the difficulty of cholecystectomy., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Fundacja Videochirurgii.)

Hypoxic microenvironment and metabolic dysregulation of tumor impairs the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs, resulting in drug resistance and tumor metastasis, which has always been a challenge for the treatment of solid tumors, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Herein, starting from the evaluation of methionine metabolism in RCC cells, we demonstrated that the increased methionine accumulation in RCC cells was mediated by L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) under hypoxia. Glutathione (GSH), as a methionine metabolite, would attenuate the therapeutic efficacy of oxaliplatin through chemical chelation. Reducing methionine uptake by LAT1 inhibitor JPH203 significantly enhanced the sensitivity of RCC cells to oxaliplatin by reducing GSH production in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, we proposed an effective and stable therapeutic strategy based on the combination of oxaliplatin and LAT1 inhibitor, which is expected to solve the resistance of RCC to platinum-based drugs under hypoxia to a certain extent, providing a meaningful insight into the development of new therapeutic strategies and RCC treatment.

Objective: To compare the outcomes of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (L-TME) with Denonvilliers' fascia (DVF) preservation versus resection on urogenital function of male patients with rectal cancer., Background: The protective effect of DVF during L-TME on pelvic autonomic nerves and postoperative urogenital function remains controversial., Methods: Between August 26, 2015 and July 18, 2019, 253 male patients with cT1-4 (T1-2 for anterior wall) N0-2M0 rectal cancer from 11 institutions were enrolled, and randomly assigned to L-TME with DVF preservation (Exp-group, n = 123) or resection procedures (Con-group, n = 130). Urinary function was assessed by residual urine volume, maximal flow rate, and International Prostate Symptom Score; sexual function was assessed by 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) and ejaculation grading., Results: The Exp-group patients showed a lower urinary dysfunction rate (6.8% vs 25.4%, P = 0.003), higher maximal flow rate (16.25 ± 8.02 vs 12.40 ± 7.05 mL/s, P = 0.007), and lower International Prostate Symptom Score (6.55 ± 5.86 vs 8.57 ± 5.85, P = 0.026) than the Con-group patients at 2 weeks after surgery. The incidence of erectile dysfunction (IIEF-5 ≤ 11) at 12 months after surgery was lower in the Exp-group than in the Con-group (12.5% vs 34.2%, P = 0.023); Exp-group manifested superior IIEF-5 (16.63 ± 6.28 vs 12.26 ± 6.83, P = 0.018). The incidence of ejaculation dysfunction was lower in the Exp-group than in the Con-group at 12 months after surgery (10.0% vs 29.4%, P = 0.034)., Conclusions: DVF preservation during L-TME revealed protective effects on postoperative urogenital function, and could be a better choice for male rectal cancer patients with specific staging and location., Trial Registration Number: NCT02435758., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Objective To study the effects of microRNA-139 (miR-139) regulating Notch signaling pathway on bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) homing and asthma airway inflammation. Methods Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model control group and BMSCs group. The rats were challenged with ovalbumin and then BMSCs were transplanted into the rats. Pathological changes in lung tissues were observed by HE staining. The expression of BMSCs marker C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in the lung tissues was examined by flow cytometry, and the expression of CXCR4 in bronchial epithelial cells was observed by immunofluorescence staining. The expression of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukins-4 (IL-4) were detected by ELISA, and the expression of Notch1, Jagged1 and Hes1 in the lung tissues were tested by Western blot analysis. Results Compared with the normal control group, the expression of CXCR4, IL-4, Notch1 and Hes1 in the lung tissues of the model control group increased significantly, and the ratio of Th1/Th2 cells and the level of miR-139 mRNA decreased. Compared with the model control group, the expression of CXCR4 in the lung tissues and bronchial epithelial cells increased, so were the ratio of Th1/Th2 cells and the level of miR-139 mRNA, while the expression of Notch1 and Hes1 decreased. Correlation analysis showed that the expression of CXCR4 in the lung tissues was positively correlated with the expression of CXCR4 in bronchial epithelial cells, the ratio of Th1/Th2 cells, and miR-139. The expression of CXCR4 in bronchial epithelial cells was positively correlated with the ratio of Th1/Th2 cells, the expression of miR-139, and negatively correlated with the expression of Notch1. The ratio of Th1/Th2 cells was positively correlated with the expression of miR-139. Conclusion miR-139 can down-regulate the Notch pathway and promote BMSCs homing in asthmatic lung tissues, thus suppressing the inflammatory response of Th2 cells through immune regulation.

Objective: To observe the effect of Yanghe Pingchuan (YHPC) granule on miR-139-5p, Notch1/Hes1 pathway and homing of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in asthmatic rats., Methods: Fifty SD rats were randomized divided into normal control (NC) group, asthmatic model group, BMSCs transplantation group, BMSCs + dexamethasone (0.0625 mg/kg daily) group, and BMSCs+YHPC granule (3.5 g/kg daily) group. In all but the normal control group, asthmatic rat models were established by ovalbumin challenge, and BMSCs (1×10 6 /mL) transplantation via the tail vein was performed in the latter 3 groups on last day of ovalbumin challenge. In all the groups, lung pathologies of the rats were evaluated using HE staining after the treatments. Flow cytometry was employed to detect pulmonary expression of CXCR4 protein, and ELISA was used to determine the expressions of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the lung tissue. The expressions of CXCR4, Notch1 and Hes1 in bronchial epithelial cells was examined using immunofluorescence assay. RT-PCR was used to detect the expressions of miR-139-5p, Notch1, Jagged1, RBP-J and Hes1 mRNAs, and the protein expressions of Notch1, Jagged1 and Hes1 were detected with Western blotting., Results: Compared with the normal control rats, the asthmatic rats exhibited significantly increased expressions of CXCR4, IL-4, Notch1, Jagged1, RBP-J, and Hes1 mRNA and Notch1, Jagged1, and Hes1 proteins and lowered expressions of INF-γ mRNA and miR-139-5p in the lung tissues ( P < 0.05 or 0.01). Compared with those in the asthmatic model group, the mRNA expressions of CXCR4, IFN-γ, and miR-139-5p increased and the expressions of IL-4, Notch1, Jagged1, RBP-J, and Hes1 mRNA and Notch1, Jagged1, and Hes1 proteins decreased significantly in the 3 groups with BMSCs transplantation ( P < 0.05 or 0.01). The rats in BMSCs+YHPC granule group showed significantly higher CXCR4, IFN-γ, and miR-139-5p mRNA expressions and lower IL-4 and Notch1 mRNA expressions than those in BMSCs transplantation group ( P < 0.05)., Conclusions: YHPC granule can enhance the inhibitory effect of BMSCs homing on Th2 inflammatory response in asthmatic rats by up-regulating miR-139-5p and down-regulating Notch1/Hes1 pathway.

The over- and inefficient release of antibiotics from common delivery systems causes the development of drug-resistant bacteria. In the present work, methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone)-chitosan/montmorillonite (MPC/MMT) hybrid multilayer films were constructed for bacterial infections and pH-dependent release of the hydrophobic drug triclosan (TCA). The thickness of the (MPC-T/MMT) 10 multilayer films was 384.4 ± 26.5 nm, and the TCA loading dosage was 2.4 μg/cm 2 . Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis were used in the antibacterial tests. pH responsive TCA release from the prepared multilayer films was examined by measuring the bactericidal activity of the films after immersion in PBS (pH 7.4) or MES (pH 5.5) and zone of inhibition on nutrient agar. In vitro bacterial shake-flask, zone of inhibition and live/dead staining results demonstrated the high sterilization efficiency of the films. Furthermore, cell biocompatibility measurements toward L929 fibroblasts and human lens epithelial cells showed no adverse effects of the multilayer film., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the association of early diarrhea and fecal volume with anastomotic leakage after low anterior resection (LAR) of rectal cancer., Methods: Clinical data of 541 patients with rectal cancer undergoing LAR at The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College between January 2007 and January 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. Early postoperative diarrhea was defined as at least one occurrence of more than 50 ml watery stool or at least four times defecation per day within 7 days after surgery. The volume of fecal discharge from the transanal drain was measured at daily intervals for 3 days after surgery. Association of early diarrhea and anastomotic leakage was analyzed using logistic regression model. The accuracy of fecal volume in predicting anastomotic leakage was evaluated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve., Results: There were 319 males and 222 females with mean age of 59.3 years. Early postoperative diarrhea occurred in 99(18.3%) patients, and 41(7.6%) patients developed anastomotic leakage. The incidence of anastomodc leakage in patients with early diarrhea was significantly higher as compared to those without early diarrhea (15.2% vs. 5.9%, P=0.000). Multivariate analysis revealed that early diarrhea (OR=33.940, 95%CI: 8.423 to 89.240) and the distance between the tumor and the anal verge less than 7 cm (OR=13.085, 95%CI: 2.117 to 44.556) were independent risk factors for anastomotic leakage, while the presence of a transanal tube was an independent protective factor (OR=0.474, 95%CI: 0.122 to 0.881). The total fecal volume for 3 days after surgery was calculated in 162 patients with a transanal tube. The median fecal volume was 210 (100 to 4360) ml and 60 (0 to 480) ml in patients with and without anastomotic leakage respectively(P=0.000). ROC curve showed that the cut-off value of fecal volume for anastomotic leakage was 110 ml and the area under the curve was 0.824 with a high sensitivity of 85.7% and specificity of 81.3%., Conclusions: Early postoperative diarrhea after LAR procedure of rectal cancer may be an early predictor of anastomotic leakage, and fecal volume for 3 days after surgery ≥110 ml can accurately predict anastomotic leakage. Active prevention and management of early postoperative diarrhea may reduce the risk of anastomotic leakage.

Objectives: To examine racial/ethnic/immigration disparities in health and to investigate the relationships among race/ethnic/immigration status, delayed health care, and health of the elderly., Design and Sample: Responses from 13,508 people aged 65 and above were analyzed based on the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) 2011-2012., Measures: Key variables include race/ethnicity/immigration status, health outcome, and delayed health care. Age, gender, education, work status, and annual family income are used as covariates., Results: The findings indicate that Whites (regardless of country of birth) and U.S.-born Asians enjoy better health than Latinos, African-Americans, and Foreign-born Asians. Foreign-born Asians and foreign-born Latinos have the poorest self-reported health and mental health, respectively. Delayed use of health care is negatively associated with both self-reported health and mental health status., Conclusions: Health disparities exist among older adult populations; the combined effects of minority and immigrant status can be approximated from the results in this study. Health care accessibility and the quality of care should be promoted in minority/immigrant populations. Public health nurses have a strong potential to aide in reducing health disparities among an aging American population that continues to exhibit increasing racial/ethnic diversity., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: To construct the prokaryotic expression vector of insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3), express and purify IGF2BP3 protein in E.coli, and prepare the polyclonal antibody against IGF2BP3., Methods: The full open reading frame (ORF) of human IGF2BP3 was amplified by PCR, subcloned into pET-28a vector, and transformed into E.coli BL21(DE3), in which expression of the His-tagged IGF2BP3 protein was induced by IPTG. This protein was subsequently purified by Ni-NTA purification system, refolded by removal of urea from the solution. BALB/c mice were immunized with the purified IGF2BP3 protein to produce polyclonal antibody against IGF2BP3. The resulting anti-sera were further characterized by ELISA, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry., Results: IGF2BP3 gene we amplified was consistent with the sequence reported by GenBank. Prokaryotic expression vector pET-28a-IGF2BP3 was constructed. His-tagged IGF2BP3 protein was successfully expressed in BL21 (DE3) with relative molecular mass (Mr) about 70 000 after IPTG induction. After purified by Ni-NTA resin, the purity of the protein reached above 90%. After immunization, the titer of the IGF2BP3 mouse anti-serum was over 1:50 000 as determined by ELISA. Further, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry showed that the IGF2BP3 antibody could specifically recognize the target protein., Conclusion: The polyclonal antibody specifically recognizing IGF2BP3 has been successfully generated.

Purpose: After testing the capacity of Kessler's psychological distress (K6) scale to measure equally across low-income Mexican-born women (n=881) and U.S.-born women of Mexican descent (n=317), this study assesses the impact of acculturation on this group's psychological distress., Methods: We employ descriptive and confirmatory factor analyses to test the cross-cultural equivalence of K6. Multivariate and logistic regression is used to test the association between acculturation and psychological distress among low-income, Mexican-American women., Results: The cross-cultural equivalence analysis shows that some of the scale's items have the capacity to measure psychological distress equally among participants. Regression results indicate that the more acculturated these women become, the greater their psychological distress is., Conclusion: The study recommends that researchers emphasize the cross-cultural equivalence of their measures and suggests a heightened awareness among practitioners of the multidimensional impact of acculturation on clients of Mexican descent., (Copyright © 2015 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Centriole biogenesis depends on the polo-like kinase (PLK4) and a small group of structural proteins. The spatiotemporal regulation of these proteins at pre-existing centrioles is essential to ensure that centriole duplication occurs once per cell cycle. Here, we report that phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase type-1 gamma (PIP5K1C, hereafter referred to as PIPKIγ) plays an important role in centriole fidelity. PIPKIγ localized in a ring-like pattern in the intermediate pericentriolar materials around the proximal end of the centriole in G1, S and G2 phases, but not in M phase. This localization was dependent upon an association with centrosomal protein of 152 KDa (CEP152). Without detaining cells in S or M phase, the depletion of PIPKIγ led to centriole amplification in a manner that was dependent upon PLK4 and spindle assembly abnormal protein 6 homolog (SAS6). The expression of exogenous PIPKIγ reduced centriole amplification that occurred as a result of endogenous PIPKIγ depletion, hydroxyurea treatment or PLK4 overexpression, suggesting that PIPKIγ is likely to function at the PLK4 level to restrain centriole duplication. Importantly, we found that PIPKIγ bound to the cryptic polo-box domain of PLK4 and that this binding reduced the kinase activity of PLK4. Together, our findings suggest that PIPKIγ is a novel negative regulator of centriole duplication, which acts by modulating the homeostasis of PLK4 activity.

Each year, state juvenile courts provide thousands of immigrant and refugee children with access to consistent and reliable caregiving and a stable environment. To examine how courts interpret "the best interests" of immigrant and refugee children, this article examines 24 cases in courts across the United States, which indicate they use a territorial approach when evaluating the best interests standard. Although legal status was not an issue, many related factors were. Consequently, the courts restricted immigrant parents' rights in caring, guiding, and visiting their children; increased the risk of wrongfully terminating parental rights; and intensified the unpredictability of immigrant and refugee children's welfare in the long run. This article suggests an approach that encourages communication between social workers and the courts to address the special needs and circumstances of immigrant and refugee children on three key topics: the material and moral welfare of the child, and social welfare for immigrant and refugee families.