Search

Abstract Background Schistosoma japonicum infection causes hepatic fibrosis, a primary cause of morbidity and mortality associated with the disease, and effective treatments are still lacking. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in the pathogenic process of various tissue fibroses. However, the role of lncRNAs in schistosomiasis hepatic fibrosis (HF) is poorly understood. Understanding the role of lncRNAs in schistosomiasis HF will enhance knowledge of disease processes and aid in the discovery of therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers. Methods Differentially expressed lncRNA profiles in primary hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) of mice infected with S. japonicum were identified using high-throughput lncRNA sequencing. Primary HSCs were isolated from infected mice using collagenase digestion and density-gradient centrifugation, cultured in DMEM with 10% fetal bovine serum. Dual-luciferase reporter assays, nuclear cytoplasm fractionation and RIP assays were employed to assess the relationship between Malat1 and miRNA-96. Malat1 lentivirus and ASO-Malat1 were constructed for forced expression and downregulated expression of Malat1. The Malat1-KO mouse was constructed by CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Pathological features of the liver were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin (HE), Masson’s trichrome staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The expression levels of fibrosis-related genes were determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. Results A total of 1561 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified between infected and uninfected primary HSCs. Among the top altered lncRNAs, the downregulated Malat1 was observed in infected HSCs and verified by qPCR. Treatment of infected mice with praziquantel (PZQ) significantly increased the Malat1 expression. Elevated Malat1 expression in infected primary HSC reduced the expressions of profibrogenic genes, whereas Malat1 knockdown had the opposite effect. Moreover, Malat1 was found to interact with miR-96, a profibrotic miRNA, by targeting Smad7. Forced Malat1 expression reduced miR-96 levels in infected primary HSCs, attenuating fibrogenesis and showing negative correlation between Malat1 expression and the expression levels of miR-96 and profibrogenic genes α-SMA and Col1α1. Notably, in Malat1-KO mice, knockout of Malat1 aggravates schistosomiasis HF, while restored Malat1 expression in the infected HSCs reduced the expression of profibrogenic genes. Conclusions We demonstrate that lncRNA is involved in regulation of schistosomiasis HF. Elevated lncRNA Malat1 expression in infected HSCs reduces fibrosis via the Malat1/miR-96/Smad7 pathway, thus providing a novel therapeutic target for schistosomiasis HF. Furthermore, Malat1 expression is sensitive to PZQ treatment, thus offering a potential biomarker for assessing the response to chemotherapy. Graphical abstract

Improving plant resistance to Verticillium wilt (VW), which causes massive losses in Gossypium hirsutum, is a global challenge. Crop plants need to efficiently allocate their limited energy resources to maintain a balance between growth and defense. However, few transcriptional regulators specifically respond to Verticillium dahliae and the underlying mechanism has not been identified in cotton. In this study, we found that the that expression of most R2R3-MYB members in cotton is significantly changed by V. dahliae infection relative to the other MYB types. One novel R2R3-MYB transcription factor (TF) that specifically responds to V. dahliae, GhMYB3D5, was identified. GhMYB3D5 was not expressed in 15 cotton tissues under normal conditions, but it was dramatically induced by V. dahliae stress. We functionally characterized its positive role and underlying mechanism in VW resistance. Upon V. dahliae infection, the up-regulated GhMYB3D5 bound to the GhADH1 promoter and activated GhADH1 expression. In addition, GhMYB3D5 physically interacted with GhADH1 and further enhanced the transcriptional activation of GhADH1. Consequently, the transcriptional regulatory module GhMYB3D5-GhADH1 then promoted lignin accumulation by improving the transcriptional levels of genes related to lignin biosynthesis (GhPAL, GhC4H, Gh4CL, and GhPOD/GhLAC) in cotton, thereby enhancing cotton VW resistance. Our results demonstrated that the GhMYB3D5 promotes defense-induced lignin accumulation, which can be regarded as an effective way to orchestrate plant immunity and growth.

Abstract Background Periodontitis, a persistent inflammatory condition, significantly impairs individuals’ overall quality of life. Lymphocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (LHR), monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR), neutrophil-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHR), and platelet-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (PHR) are new convenient and economical biomarkers. However, whether the above high-density lipoprotein-related inflammatory biomarkers are associated with periodontitis has rarely been investigated. Therefore, the research endeavor focused on uncovering potential relationships. Methods The research encompassed a diverse and extensive sample, comprising 9,470 participants, selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning the years 2009 to 2014. The association between high-density lipoprotein-related inflammatory biomarkers and periodontitis was explored utilizing a multivariable logistic regression model with weighted analysis. Additionally, the study employed smoothed curve fitting to explore potential nonlinear relationships. Further stratified analyses and interaction tests were performed. Results This study indicated no apparent association between MHR and PHR with periodontitis, whereas LHR and NHR demonstrated a statistically significant positive relationship with the prevalence of periodontitis. In the fully adjusted model, participants belonging to the highest tertile of both LHR and NHR showed a notably higher likelihood of having periodontitis compared to those in the lowest tertile (LHR: OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.39; NHR: OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.49). Furthermore, smooth curve fitting was employed to investigate the potential nonlinear relationship between LHR, NHR, and periodontitis. The results indicated that there was a significant increase in the occurrence of periodontitis when Log2 (LHR) exceeded 1.01 and Log2(NHR) surpassed 2.16 (Log2(LHR): OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.19, 1.69; Log2(NHR): OR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.71). The subgroup analysis revealed that the associations between periodontitis and either LHR or NHR, separately, were more pronounced among individuals under the age of 50 and those without hypertension. Conclusions This cross-sectional study revealed a positive relationship between LHR、NHR and periodontitis, particularly when these indicators exceeded their thresholds. LHR and NHR may serve as potential inflammatory markers for identifying periodontitis, thereby facilitating early warning for both patients and dentists, and enabling early intervention in the oral environment. Besides, extensive prospective cohort investigations are essential to confirm and solidify this observation.

Abstract Magnaporthe oryzae is a devastating fungal pathogen that causes the rice blast disease worldwide. The post-translational modification of ADP-ribosylation holds significant importance in various fundamental biological processes. However, the specific function of this modification in M. oryzae remains unknown. This study revealed that Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) executes a critical function in M. oryzae. M. oryzae Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) exhibits robust PARylation activity. Disruption of PARylation by PARP1 knock-out or chemical inhibition reveals its involvement in M. oryzae virulence, particularly in appressorium formation. Furthermore, we identified two M. oryzae 14-3-3 proteins, GRF1 and GRF2, as substrates of PARP1. Deletion of GRF1 or GRF2 results in delayed and dysfunctional appressorium, diminished plant penetration, and reduced virulence of the fungus. Biochemical and genetic evidence suggest that PARylation of 14-3-3s is essential for its function in M. oryzae virulence. Moreover, PARylation regulates 14-3-3 dimerization and is required for the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), Pmk1 and Mps1. GRF1 interacts with both Mst7 and Pmk1, and bridges their interaction in a PARylation-dependent manner. This study unveils a distinctive mechanism that PARylation of 14-3-3 proteins controls appressorium formation through MAPK activation, and could facilitate the development of new strategies of rice blast disease control.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study is to construct an organ system-centered undergraduate nursing professional training model and explore its application effect. Methods This study is divided into two steps. In the early stage, literature review and expert consultation were used to establish the training mode (curriculum and assessment standard) of nursing undergraduate specialty based on organ system reform. Secondly, a cross-sectional survey method was used to investigate the training quality of nursing students who graduated from Jinzhou Medical University from 2007 to 2017 under this model. Results A five-module curriculum system was established, including general courses, public basic courses, professional education courses, expanding elective courses and concentrated practical teaching. Under the teaching reform of organ system, the nursing graduates of Jinzhou Medical University, who are mainly employed in public hospitals, are generally not satisfied with their jobs, salaries, contents and prospects. Their overall satisfaction with their alma mater is very high; Graduates have certain independent core competence; Employers are basically satisfied with graduates. Conclusion The training mode of undergraduate nursing specialty based on organ system reform basically meets the training requirements and objectives.

Abstract Background Researchers have paid little attention to the safety of drug use among community residents (CRs). Irrational use of drugs can lead to health risks. We investigated the situation of knowledge–attitude–practices (KAP) of CRs in Shenzhen (China) for safe use of drugs, and analyzed the main factors influencing drug use. Methods A multi-stage, random sampling method was used. We used a validated questionnaire to conduct an online questionnaire survey on the demographic characteristics and KAP of safe use of drugs of CRs in 10 administrative districts of Shenzhen City. The KAP score of safe use of drugs of CRs was analyzed. Influencing factors were identified using a single-factor chi-squared test and binary logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 7269 valid questionnaires were collected. The average scores of knowledge, attitude, and behavior were (9.08 ± 1.49) (possible range: 0–10), (37.82 ± 3.96) (possible range: 8–40), and (35.82 ± 4.56) (possible range: 8–40), respectively, indicating that they had a better grasp of safe use of drugs. Logistic regression analysis showed that sex, age, education level, occupation, monthly household income per capita, marital status, health status, and different sources of information were the main factors affecting the knowledge and behavior of safe use of drugs of CRs. In addition to the marital status variable, other variables also have a significant impact on attitude towards safe use of drugs of CRs. Conclusions Male sex, lower education level, lower income level, average/poor self-rated health status, and single source of drug-use information were the main factors affecting safe use of drugs based on KAP theory. The government and medical workers should carry out various forms of drug-education activities for people with different needs, encourage CRs to learn safe use of drugs, and promote safe use of drugs by CRs through diverse information sources.

Abstract Background To investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between depressive symptoms and the prevalence of frailty and its components in a nationally representative sample of middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Method The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) provided data on 2581 (after inclusion and exclusion criteria) adults aged ≥ 45 years. Every two years, face-to-face, computer-aided personal interviews (CAPI), and structured questionnaires were used to follow up with the respondents. The Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to evaluate depressive symptoms, and the Fried criteria were used to measure frailty. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association of exposure (depressive symptoms at baseline) with the onset of the outcome (frailty and its components) in the individuals at baseline were analyzed by binary logistic regression. Results At baseline, 11.62% of participants had frailty, and 57.92% had depressive symptoms. In the cross-sectional analysis, depressive symptoms (OR = 5.222, 95%CI 3.665–7.442) were associated with frailty. In the longitudinal analysis, after adjusting for the full set of covariates among participants free of baseline frailty, depressive symptoms were significantly associated with incident frailty during the short term (OR = 2.193, 95%CI 1.324–3.631) and the long term (OR = 1.926, 95%CI 1.021–3.632). Meanwhile, depressive symptoms were associated with an increased risk of weakness (OR = 1.990, 95%CI 1.250–3.166), slowness (OR = 1.395, 95%CI 1.044–1.865), and exhaustion (OR = 2.827, 95%CI 2.150–3.719) onset during the short-term. Depressive symptoms were associated with an increased risk of exhaustion (OR = 2.869, 95%CI 2.004–4.109) onset during the long-term. Conclusion Among middle-aged and older adults, depressive symptoms could predict frailty during 2 years of follow-up and 4 years of follow-up. When considering potential confounding factors, depressive symptoms were considered a predictor of weakness, slowness, and exhaustion. Interventions aimed at preventing depressive symptoms may be beneficial in reducing frailty and its components.

Abstract Background Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is one of the most common types of skin cancer worldwide. Therefore, the identification of biomarkers associated with CSCC progression could aid in the early detection of high-risk squamous cell carcinoma and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Objective This study aimed to investigate the expression patterns of silent mating type Information Regulation 2 homolog 6 (SIRT6) in CSCC and its clinical significance. Methods The protein expression level of SIRT6 in tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the correlation between SIRT6 expression and clinicopathological parameters in CSCC patients was analyzed. The relative expression of SIRT6 in CSCC cell lineage and tissue specimens was determined by western blotting and PCR. The effect of SIRT6 silencing on cell proliferation was evaluated using cell counting kit 8. Wound healing, transwell method, and flow cytometry were used to investigate the migration, invasion, and cell cycle distribution/apoptosis of CSCC cells after SIRT6 silencing, respectively. Western blot was used to detect the expression of EMT (Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition), cycle, apoptosis, and other related proteins. Results The high expression of SIRT6 was correlated with the location of cancer tissue and Broder staging in CSCC patients. Knockdown of SIRT6 inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT of CSCC cells, and promoted their apoptosis, with cells blocked in G1 phase. Study limitations No animal experiments were conducted to further verify the results. Conclusion Decreased expression of SIRT6 can inhibit the occurrence and development of CSCC.

Abstract Background Job burnout is a prevalent and emerging challenge in the primary medical system, causing mass turnover, especially of primary medical staff. Little attention has been paid to the different dimensions of job burnout (emotional exhaustion, personality disintegration, and reduced sense of achievement), which may hinder efforts to tackle high turnover intention among primary medical staff. From the perspective of conservation of resources theory, social support and psychological capital are basic resources with potential to diminish job burnout and thus lower turnover intention. However, there is insufficient research evidence on the relationships between social support, psychological capital, and the three dimensions of job burnout within the primary medical system. Objectives Focusing on primary medical staff, this study conducts a path analysis to examine the correlations between two types of resources (social support and psychological capital) and the three dimensions of job burnout, and to test the impact of the latter on turnover intention. Based on the results, effective management strategies to improve the work stability of primary medical staff are proposed. Methods Multi-stage cluster random sampling was used to select participants in Anhui Province, China. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire containing measures of the main variables and demographic questions. In total, 1132 valid questionnaires were returned by primary medical staff. Structural equation modeling was used for path analysis of the data. Results Social support was negatively associated with emotional exhaustion (β = − 0.088, P = 0.020), personality disintegration (β = − 0.235, P

Poly (p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA), is well known as a material with excellent properties, but its application is greatly limited due to the harsh methods required for its preparation. This study proposes an innovative carbodiimide-assisted polymerization (CAP) method to simplify the synthesis process of PPTA. The ηinh of the prepared PPTA is 4.97 dl/g. Achieving amidation condensation at normal temperature and pressure, this method is suitable for synthesizing PPTA and allows for the recycling of the condensation reagent, offering a novel approach to green synthesis. Compared to the commercial fiber Kevlar 29, PPTA exhibits similar thermal stability, with negligible decomposition before 500°C. Using the deprotonation method to prepare aramid nanofiber (ANF) resulted in various shapes of bulk materials. The ANF bulk exhibits excellent mechanical properties, with tensile and compressive strengths of 36.9 MPa and 60.68 MPa, respectively, on par with standard engineering materials. Additionally, ANF and PPTA share similar thermal stability. Furthermore, the study prepared aramid nanofiber/partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (ANF/HPAM) composite paper, which demonstrated outstanding mechanical performance and thermal stability. The ANF/HPAM composite paper (2% concentration of HPAM) exhibited a tensile strength of 63.32 MPa. These findings offer new insights into developing high-performance fiber materials.

IntroductionFerroptosis is a crucial process contributing to neuronal damage following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Didang Tang (DDT), a traditional therapeutic, has been used clinically to manage ICH for many years, yet the molecular mechanisms by which by DDT protects neurons from ferroptosis after ICH remain elusive.MethodsThis study utilized high-performance liquid chromatography-based fingerprint analysis to characterize DDT’s chemical composition. An ICH rat model and hemin and erastin-induced PC12 cell ferroptosis models were developed to investigate DDT’s neuroprotective mechanisms. Histological assessments of brain tissue morphology and iron deposition were performed using hematoxylin-eosin, Nissl, and Perl’s blue staining. Neurological function was evaluated using Longa and Berderson scores, while lipid peroxidation was measured using biochemical assays and flow cytometry. Protein expression levels of ferroptosis- and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-related markers were analyzed via Western blotting and immunofluorescence.ResultsOur results demonstrated that DDT reduced hematoma volume, decreased iron deposition, lowered malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and upregulated glutathione peroxidase (GPX4) and SLC7A11 expression in affected brain regions. Furthermore, DDT downregulated GRP78 expression and inhibited the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP/GPX4 pathway, exerting strong neuroprotective effects. The fluorescence staining results of MAP2/GPX4 and MAP2/CHOP suggested that DDT may regulate neuronal ferroptosis and ERs to exert the protective effect. In vitro experiments using hemin- and erastin-induced neuron-derived PC12 cells as neuronal ferroptosis models developed in our laboratory corroborated these in vivo findings, showing increased survival and reduced lipid peroxidation in DDT-treated cells, along with similar inhibitory effects on ferroptosis and ERS. Molecular docking suggested that DDT components, such as sennoside B, amygdalin, rhein, and emodin, interact favorably with PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway proteins, highlighting their potential role in DDT’s anti-ferroptosis effects.ConclusionDDT alleviates neuronal ferroptosis after ICH by modulating the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP/GPX4 signaling pathway. Overall, this study provides novel insights into DDT’s protective mechanisms against ICH-induced neuronal injury by modulating ferroptosis and ERS pathways, underscoring its potential as an effective therapeutic strategy.

Stroke has emerged as the primary cause of disability and death globally in recent years. Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), a particularly severe kind of stroke, is occurring in an increasing number of people. The two main clinical treatments for ICH now in use are conservative pharmaceutical therapy and surgical intervention, both of which have risks and drawbacks. Consequently, it is crucial to look into the pathophysiology of ICH and consider cutting-edge therapeutic approaches. Recent research has revealed that pyroptosis is a newly identified type of cell death distinguished by the break of the cell membrane and the discharge of pro-inflammatory substances through different routes. Following ICH, glial cells experience pyroptosis, which worsens neuroinflammation. Hence, the onset and progression of ICH are strongly linked to pyroptosis, which is facilitated by different inflammasomes. It is essential to conduct a comprehensive investigation of ICH damage processes and uncover new targets for treatment. The impact and function of pyroptosis in ICH, as well as the activation and regulation of inflammasomes and their mediated pyroptosis pathways will be fully discussed in this review.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder distinguished by gradual depletion of motor neurons. RNA binding motif protein 5 (RBM5), an abundantly expressed RNA-binding protein, plays a critical role in the process of cellular death. However, little is known about the role of RBM5 in the pathogenesis of ALS. Here, we found that RBM5 was upregulated in ALS hSOD1G93A-NSC34 cell models and hSOD1G93A mice due to a reduction of miR-141–5p. The upregulation of RBM5 increased the apoptosis of motor neurons by inhibiting Rac1-mediated neuroprotection. In contrast, genetic knockdown of RBM5 rescued motor neurons from hSOD1G93A-induced degeneration by activating Rac1 signaling. The neuroprotective effect of RBM5-knockdown was significantly inhibited by the Rac1 inhibitor, NSC23766. These findings suggest that RBM5 could potentially serve as a therapeutic target in ALS by activating the Rac1 signalling.

BackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive decline in cognitive function, which significantly increases pain and social burden. However, few therapeutic interventions are effective in preventing or mitigating the progression of AD. An increasing number of recent studies support the hypothesis that the gut microbiome and its metabolites may be associated with upstream regulators of AD pathology.MethodsIn this review, we comprehensively explore the potential mechanisms and currently available interventions targeting the microbiome for the improvement of AD. Our discussion is structured around modern research advancements in AD, the bidirectional communication between the gut and brain, the multi-target regulatory effects of microbial metabolites on AD, and therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating gut microbiota to manage AD.ResultsThe gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AD through continuous bidirectional communication via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Among these, microbial metabolites such as lipids, amino acids, bile acids and neurotransmitters, especially sphingolipids and phospholipids, may serve as central components of the gut-brain axis, regulating AD-related pathogenic mechanisms including β-amyloid metabolism, Tau protein phosphorylation, and neuroinflammation. Additionally, interventions such as probiotic administration, fecal microbiota transplantation, and antibiotic use have also provided evidence supporting the association between gut microbiota and AD. At the same time, we propose an innovative strategy for treating AD: a healthy lifestyle combined with targeted probiotics and other potential therapeutic interventions, aiming to restore intestinal ecology and microbiota balance.ConclusionDespite previous efforts, the molecular mechanisms by which gut microbes act on AD have yet to be fully described. However, intestinal microorganisms may become an essential target for connecting the gut-brain axis and improving the symptoms of AD. At the same time, it requires joint exploration by multiple centers and multiple disciplines.

IntroductionDiabetic macular edema (DME) is a major cause of vision loss in the sick with diabetic retinopathy. The occurrence of DME is closely related to the breakdown of neurovascular coupling; however, its underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic biomarkers and potential molecular mechanisms associated with neurovascular coupling in DME.MethodsThe differential expression analysis, STEM, and WGCNA were performed from GSE160306 to identify hub genes. The gene expression was validated by RT-qPCR. The relevant mechanisms of action were investigated through GO, KEGG, and GSEA analyses, as well as co-expression networks. Additionally, the LASSO regression analysis and a nomogram were used to demonstrate the diagnostic effectiveness of the model. Finally, the GenDoma platform was utilized to identify drugs with potential therapeutic effects on DME.ResultsNeurotrophic factor receptor (NGFR) was identified as a hub gene related to neurovascular coupling and DME. The expression of NGFR was verified by RT-qPCR in vitro cells. GSEA analysis indicated that high expression of NGFR may affect immunity and inflammatory pathway, thereby regulating neurovascular coupling and mediating the development of DME. The NGFR co-expression network was constructed, which exhibited the correlation with the neurotrophin signaling pathway. Moreover, a diagnostic model for DME based on NGFR and PREX1 demonstrated relatively good diagnostic performance using LASSO regression analysis and the nomogram. And then the GenDoma platform identified drugs with potential therapeutic effects on DME.ConclusionThe high expression of NGFR may lead to abnormal neurovascular coupling and participate in the occurrence of DME by regulating the immunity, inflammatory and neurotrophin signaling pathway. Detection of NGFR and related expression genes may be beneficial for monitoring the occurrence and development of DME.

Abstract Background Nursing students are encountering a range of health issues. Assessing social support is a key component in most questionnaire surveys related to health status, aiming to investigate the relationships and mechanisms between health status and social support to enhance overall health. Therefore, it is essential to seek out appropriate instruments to evaluate social support for nursing students. The Oslo-3 Social Support Scale (OSSS-3) is a reliable and concise instrument for evaluating social support. To date, there have been no studies validating the OSSS-3 based on Item Response Theory (IRT) models. Also, an officially validated Chinese version has not been found. The current research intended to verify the Chinese version of the OSSS-3. Methods The OSSS-3 was translated into Chinese and culturally adapted. Subsequently, the OSSS-3 was validated by employing the Classical Test Theory (CTT) and IRT models. Results The split-half reliability was 0.622. The Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.687. The correlations between each item and total scores varied from 0.723 to 0.835. The retest coefficient was 0.907. The content validity index was 0.933. A single common factor was extracted and accounted for 61.559% of the variance. The item loading values on the single factor were between 0.743 and 0.814. The communalities were between 0.552 and 0.663. There was no variance between males and females (P = 0.055). The difference in scores between the top (30%) and bottom (30%) groups attained significance. IRT models results revealed that the discrimination parameters ranged from 1.39 to 2.33 and difficulty parameters increased monotonically. Conclusion The OSSS-3 demonstrates satisfying psychometric properties and is a proper instrument for measuring social support in Chinese nursing students.

Abstract To investigate the screening and predicting functions of obesity- and lipid-related indices for type 2 diabetes (T2D) in middle-aged and elderly Chinese, as well as the ideal predicted cut-off value. This study's data comes from the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). A cross-sectional study design was used to investigate the relationship of T2D and 13 obesity- and lipid-related indices, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist–height ratio (WHtR), visceral adiposity index (VAI), a body shape index (ABSI), body roundness index (BRI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), conicity index (CI), Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI), triglyceride- glucose index (TyG index) and its correlation index (TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, TyG-WHtR). The unadjusted and adjusted correlations between 13 indices and T2D were assessed using binary logistic regression analysis. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to determine the usefulness of anthropometric indices for screening for T2D and determining their cut‑off value, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC). The study comprised 9488 people aged 45 years or above in total, of whom 4354 (45.89%) were males and 5134 (54.11%) were females. Among them were 716 male cases of T2D (16.44%) and 870 female cases of T2D (16.95%). A total of 13 obesity- and lipid-related indices were independently associated with T2D risk after adjusted for confounding factors (P

Abstract Background Depressive symptoms are one of the most common psychiatric disorders, with a high lifetime prevalence rate among middle-aged and elderly Chinese. Obesity may be one of the risk factors for depressive symptoms, but there is currently no consensus on this view. Therefore, we investigate the relationship and predictive ability of 13 obesity- and lipid-related indices with depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly Chinese. Methods The data were obtained from The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Our analysis includes individuals who did not have depressive symptoms at the baseline of the CHARLS Wave 2011 study and were successfully follow-up in 2013 and 2015. Finally, 3790 participants were included in the short-term (from 2011 to 2013), and 3660 participants were included in the long-term (from 2011 to 2015). The average age of participants in short-term and long-term was 58.47 years and 57.88 years. The anthropometric indicators used in this analysis included non-invasive [e.g. waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and a body mass index (ABSI)], and invasive anthropometric indicators [e.g. lipid accumulation product (LAP), triglyceride glucose index (TyG index), and its-related indices (e.g. TyG-BMI, and TyG-WC)]. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to examine the predictive ability of various indicators for depressive symptoms. The association of depressive symptoms with various indicators was calculated using binary logistic regression. Results The overall incidence of depressive symptoms was 20.79% in the short-term and 27.43% in the long-term. In males, WC [AUC = 0.452], LAP [AUC = 0.450], and TyG-WC [AUC = 0.451] were weak predictors of depressive symptoms during the short-term (P 0.05). Conclusion The research indicates that in the middle-aged and elderly Chinese, most obesity- and lipid-related indices have statistical significance in predicting depressive symptoms, but the accuracy of these indicators in prediction is relatively low and may not be practical predictors.

Abstract The purpose of the study was to determine whether changes in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in middle-aged and elderly Chinese are associated with metabolic syndrome. In this cohort investigation, 3697 middle-aged and elderly people aged 45 or over were recruited from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (2005) defined metabolic syndrome (MetS). With Cox regression analysis, we calculated hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for MetS based on BMI-WC change categories. To assess the prevalence of MetS, the changes in BMI and WC levels were classified into four quartiles based on their relative and absolute changes. In subjects whose BMI and WC decreased (HR = 0.338; 95% CIs 0.264, 0.433) as well as those whose BMI increased and their WC decreased (HR = 0.375; 95% CIs 0.228, 0.499), metabolic syndrome risk was significantly lower compared with those with increases in both BMI and WC. Regarding the absolute changes in BMI, the lowest percentile of BMI was significantly lower in both males (HR = 0.302; 95% CIs 0.204, 0.448) and females (HR = 0.486; 95% CIs 0.354, 0.667) for the risk of metabolic syndrome. Similar results were observed in the absolute changes in WC, with the lowest quantile of WC having a significant impact on MetS risk in males (HR = 0.170; 95% CIs 0.107, 0.270) and females (HR = 0.303; 95% CIs 0.217, 0.424). The risk of metabolic syndrome was significantly associated with changes in BMI and WC in middle-aged and elderly Chinese. A reduced BMI and WC are associated with lower metabolic syndrome risks in middle-aged and elderly people.

This research examined and compared the effect of microwave and deodorant treatments on the rheological and microscopic characteristics of crumb rubber modified asphalt (CRMA) after long-term aging. Although the emissions from the asphalt modified by microwave treatment of crumb rubber (CR-micr) or high-alkane alcohol deodorant treatment of crumb rubber (CR-de) are reduced significantly compared with the ordinary CRMA, the research on their rheological and microscopic properties after aging is insufficient (especially for the CRMA with CR-de), which may pose a potential risk to their application in road engineering. To address this issue, this paper first used the rolling thin film oven and pressure aging vessel test to imitate the long-term aging of CRMAs. Then, the rheological properties of aged CRMA samples were evaluated using a dynamic shear rheometer and a bending beam rheometer. Meanwhile, the surface micromorphology, micromechanical characteristics and the chemical functional groups of CRMA samples before and after long-term aging were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results demonstrated that the microwave treatment can enhance the fatigue life of the long-term aged CRMA by approximately 29 % under 8 % CR content and 3 % strain level, while effectively improve the resistance to low-temperature cracking. Meanwhile, after long-term aging, the carbonyl index of CRMA with CR-micr is 36 % lower than that of CRMA with CR-de and 50 % lower than that of ordinary CRMA. The micromechanical modulus of CRMA with CR-micr is also lower than that of CRMA with CR-de and ordinary CRMA. These findings manifest that the microwave treatment can improve the ability of CRMA to resist long-term aging, and the deodorant treatment does not have an adverse effect on this ability.

Eutrophication resulting from anthropogenic activities has been recognized as a significant driver of changes in ecosystem functioning. Furthermore, it may exacerbate the top–down effect and thus exert an important impact on plant growth. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a 3-year manipulative field experiment to investigate the impacts of nitrogen addition and crab herbivory on the growth of Phragmites australis in the salt marsh of the Yellow River Delta. The results demonstrated that a 3-year nitrogen addition can significantly increase the total nitrogen and carbon content of P. australis leaves, thereby enhancing their nutritional value and palatability, as well as increasing the proportion of leaves consumed by crabs. Therefore, nitrogen addition together with crab herbivory had a significant negative effect on P. australis height, leaf length, and leaf breadth in the ambient crab and procedural crab cage treatment compared to the crab exclusion treatment. The structural equation modeling further substantiated these findings. The model revealed a direct and positive correlation between nitrogen addition and leaf nutrient content (path coefficient = 0.34). Additionally, it demonstrated a direct and positive relationship between leaf nutrient content and the proportion of leaves consumed by crabs (path coefficient = 0.22). Simultaneously, there was an observed negative correlation (path coefficient = − 0.37) between the proportion of leaves consumed by crabs and plant functional traits, represented by leaf length in the model, during 2018. Moreover, the crab exclusion treatment significantly reduced the proportion of leaves consumed by crabs and thus enhanced the P. australis individuals, leaf number, and biomass. Overall, crab herbivory had a significant detrimental top–down effect on the growth of P. australis, and nitrogen enrichment may exacerbate this top–down effect. The findings of our study highlight the combined adverse effects of nutrient enrichment and top–down on plant functional traits and plant growth. The findings of this study will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the underlying factors influencing vegetation degradation in coastal wetland, thereby establishing a solid theoretical framework for the conservation and management of wetland ecosystems within the context of global environmental change.

AimsThis investigation explored the potential correlation between serum vitamin D concentration and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsThis cross-sectional study assessed 4,570 patients with T2DM drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset. Restricted cubic splines were utilized to examine the dose–response relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the risk of DKD in patients with T2DM. Serum vitamin D concentrations were divided into quartiles for multivariable logistic regression analysis to evaluate the association between varying serum vitamin D levels and DKD risk in patients with T2DM. Additionally, sex-stratified analyses were conducted to determine consistency of the results. The influence of vitamin D concentrations on mortality risk was assessed using a Cox regression model.ResultsOf the patients with T2DM, 33% were diagnosed with DKD. Restricted cubic spline plots revealed a U-shaped relationship between vitamin D levels and DKD risk, with a protective effect noted in the mid-range, indicating optimal serum vitamin D concentrations between 59.6 nmol/L and 84.3 nmol/L. The multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that higher VID levels were associated with a reduced mortality risk, particularly in male patients.ConclusionThe regulation and monitoring of serum vitamin D levels within an optimal range may play a pivotal role in the prevention of DKD in patients with T2DM. Public health strategies should emphasize the regular monitoring of vitamin D levels, especially among populations at elevated risk, to mitigate the progression of DKD and decrease the associated mortality rates.

Background Sputum nitrate/nitrite, which is the main component of reactive nitrogen species, is a potential biomarker of disease severity and progression in bronchiectasis. This study aimed to determine the association between nitrate/nitrite and exacerbations and airway microbiota in bronchiectasis. Methods We measured total nitrate/nitrite concentration in sputum samples collected from 85 patients with stable bronchiectasis, performed 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing of sputum samples and predicted the denitrification ability of airway microbiota using Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt). Relationships between sputum total nitrate/nitrite and disease severity, exacerbations and airway microbiota were examined. Results Higher total sputum nitrate/nitrite was associated with more severe bronchiectasis defined by E-FACED (exacerbation, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, age, chronic colonisation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, radiological extension and dyspnoea) (p=0.003) or Bronchiectasis Severity Index (p=0.006) and more exacerbations in the prior 12 months (p=0.005). Moreover, total sputum nitrate/nitrite was significantly higher in patients with worse cough score (p=0.03), worse sputum purulence score (p=0.01) and worse Medical Research Council dyspnoea score (p=0.02). In addition, the total sputum nitrate/nitrite of the P. aeruginosa colonised (PA) group was higher than that of the non-P. aeruginosa colonised (NPA) group (p=0.04), and the relative abundance of P. aeruginosa was positively correlated with total nitrate/nitrite (r=0.337, p=0.002). Denitrification module (M00529) was also significantly enriched in the PA group compared to the NPA group through PICRUSt analyses. Using receiver-operating characteristic analysis, total nitrate/nitrite was associated with exacerbations during 1-year follow-up (area under the curve 0.741, p=0.014). Conclusions Sputum nitrate/nitrite is a biomarker of disease severity and associated with P. aeruginosa colonisation in bronchiectasis.

BackgroundParvimonas micra (P. micra) has been identified as a pathogen capable of causing lung abscesses; however, its identification poses challenges due to the specialized culture conditions for anaerobic bacterial isolation. Only a few cases of lung abscesses caused by P. micra infection have been reported. Therefore, we describe the clinical characteristics of lung abscesses due to P. micra based on our case series.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on eight patients who were diagnosed with lung abscesses attributed to P. micra. Detection of P. micra was accomplished through target next-generation sequencing (tNGS). A systematic search of the PubMed database using keywords “lung abscess” and “Parvimonas micra/Peptostreptococcus micros” was performed to review published literature pertaining to similar cases.ResultsAmong the eight patients reviewed, all exhibited poor oral hygiene, with four presenting with comorbid diabetes. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed high-density mass shadows with necrosis and small cavities in the middle. Bronchoscopic examination revealed purulent sputum and bronchial mucosal inflammation. Thick secretions obstructed the airway, leading to the poor drainage of pus, and the formation of local abscesses leading to irresponsive to antibiotic therapy, which finally protracted recovery time. P. micra was successfully identified in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples from all eight patients using tNGS; in contrast, sputum and BALF bacterial cultures yielded negative results, with P. micra cultured from only one empyema sample. Following appropriate antibiotic therapy, seven patients recovered. In previously documented cases, favorable outcomes were observed in 77.8% of individuals treated with antibiotics and 22.2% were cured after surgical interventions for P. micra lung abscesses.ConclusionsThis study enriches our understanding of the clinical characteristics associated with lung abscesses attributed to P. micra. Importantly, tNGS has emerged as a rapid and effective diagnostic test in scenarios where traditional sputum cultures are negative. Encouragingly, patients with lung abscesses caused by P. micra infection exhibit a favorable prognosis with effective airway clearance and judicious anti-infective management.

This study investigated the distribution of aging depth gradients in styrene-butadiene-styrene modified bitumen (SBSMB) during natural aging. SBSMB was sourced from bitumen recycling tests and was stratified into upper, middle, and lower layers according to depth. To examine the effects of various aging depths, SBSMB samples from different depths were prepared for subsequent bitumen recycling tests. Then, studying the rheological performance of the SBSMB involved conducting multiple stress creep recovery tests. Subsequently, investigating the bee structure and nanoscale indicators of SBSMB at various aging depths involved utilizing atomic force microscopy testing. Finally, the Verhulst model was applied to assess the aging of SBSMB at different depths. The results have shown that natural aging has gradually diffused from the surface to the interior of the bitumen. An increase in aging time leads to a more pronounced aging effect at the upper levels and an accelerated the downward diffusion rate. This ultimately results in a gradient behavior of the rheological properties of SBSMB at different depths. The quantity of bee structures and the distribution density of bee structures in SBSMB both progressively decrease with increased aging depth. As aging time increases, the aging properties of SBSMB exhibit significant gradient behavior at different depths. Simultaneously, the Verhulst model accurately explain the aging trend of bitumen at different nanoscale depths.

Abstract Background Nurses play an important role in healthcare development. The increasing demands for nurses mean that nursing schools at the undergraduate level have the responsibility to ensure patient safety and quality care through a well-designed curriculum. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of the teaching method combined with situational awareness and case-based seminars in a comprehensive nursing skills practice course on the level of self-directed learning, professional identity, academic self-efficacy, theoretical scores, practical scores, teaching satisfaction, and student competence among nursing students. Methods The research population comprised was of the grades of 2019 and 2020 at Wannan Medical College in Anhui Province, China (n = 169, response rate 77.88%). The observation group from grade 2020 used the teaching method combined with situational awareness and case-based seminars, whereas the control group from grade 2019 used the traditional teaching mode. General information, self-directed learning, a professional identity, and academic self-efficacy were compared between the two groups. This research used means and standard deviations, chi-square, the Shapiro–Wilk test, and an independent sample t-test for statistical analyses. Results Compared with the control group, the total scores for self-directed learning, professional identity, and academic self-efficacy were higher in the observation group (78.80 ± 7.89 vs 60.21 ± 7.44, 63.39 ± 7.87 vs 52.35 ± 7.68, and 22.31 ± 3.30 vs 21.28 ± 2.31, respectively, with P 0.05). Conclusion The teaching method combined with situational awareness and case-based seminars in a comprehensive nursing skills practice course has the potential to improve the level of self-directed learning, professional identity, and academic self-efficacy, and it increases theoretical scores, practical scores, teaching satisfaction, and student competence.

Lymphatic metastasis is the main metastatic route for colorectal cancer, which increases the risk of cancer recurrence and distant metastasis. The properties of the lymph node metastatic colorectal cancer (LNM-CRC) cells are poorly understood, and effective therapies are still lacking. Here, we found that hypoxia-induced fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAPα) expression in LNM-CRC cells. Gain- or loss-function experiments demonstrated that FAPα enhanced tumor cell migration, invasion, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, stemness, and lymphangiogenesis via activation of the STAT3 pathway. In addition, FAPα in tumor cells induced extracellular matrix remodeling and established an immunosuppressive environment via recruiting regulatory T cells, to promote colorectal cancer lymph node metastasis (CRCLNM). Z-GP-DAVLBH, a FAPα-activated prodrug, inhibited CRCLNM by targeting FAPα-positive LNM-CRC cells. Our study highlights the role of FAPα in tumor cells in CRCLNM and provides a potential therapeutic target and promising strategy for CRCLNM.

We aimed to investigate the effects of the position of the transferred air bubble with the clinical pregnancy rate (PR) in frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. A prospective clinical study was carried out at Reproductive Medicine Center of West China Second University Hospital between June 2020 and May 2021. A total of 1159 women who underwent FET were included in this study. Transabdominal ultrasonographic guidance was used during the transfer procedure. The distance from the air bubble to endometrial cavity fundus (DAF) was measured in the freeze-frame ultrasound immediately after ET. In DAF ≤3 mm, 3–15 mm, and ≥15 mm group, the clinical PR in women transferred with cleavage embryos was 33.3% (7/21), 55.0% (153/280), and 31.3% (5/16), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Among women transferred with blastocysts, the clinical PR was 63.0% (34/54), 68.5% (485/708), and 55.0% (44/80), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In multivariate logistic regression model for clinical PR, the clinical PR was associated with age, embryo quality, number of embryo transferred, and endometrial thickness. DAF was an independent risk factor influencing clinical PR in blastocyst FET cycles rather than in cleavage embryo FET cycles. In conclusion, our results suggested that DAF was associated with the clinical PR and DAF between 3 mm and 15 mm is the optimal position in blastocyst FET cycles.