The mediating role of work-related perceptions in the relationship between empathy and self-perceived clinical performance of residents in China: A multi-center cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the association between empathy and residents' clinical performance and investigate whether work-related perception mediates this relationship.

Methods: A multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted, including 1160 residents from 10 cities in Liaoning Province between March and October 2020. The participants completed various self-reported questionnaires regarding demographic characteristics, work-related perceptions, self-perceived clinical performance, and empathy.

Wide-field endoscope accessory for multiplexed fluorescence imaging.

A wide-field endoscope that is sensitive to fluorescence can be used as an adjunct to conventional white light endoscopy by detecting multiple molecular targets concurrently. We aim to demonstrate a flexible fiber-coupled accessory that can pass forward through the instrument channel of standard medical endoscopes for clinical use to collect fluorescence images. A miniature scan mirror with reflector dimensions of 1.

Design, synthesis and SAR of novel 7-azaindole derivatives as potential Erk5 kinase inhibitor with anticancer activity.

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (Erk5) signaling plays a crucial role in cancer, and regulating its activity may have potential in cancer chemotherapy. In this study, a series of novel 7-azaindole derivatives (4a-5o) were designed and synthesized. Their antitumor activities on human lung cancer A549 cells was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining and colony formation assay.

Confocal laser endomicroscope with distal MEMS scanner for real-time histopathology.

Confocal laser endomicroscopy is an emerging methodology to perform real time optical biopsy. Fluorescence images with histology-like quality can be collected instantaneously from the epithelium of hollow organs. Currently, scanning is performed at the proximal end of probe-based instruments used routinely in the clinic, and flexibility to control the focus is limited.

HIV-Specific Reported Outcome Measures: Systematic Review of Psychometric Properties.

Background: The management of people living with HIV and AIDS is multidimensional and complex. Using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) has been increasingly recognized to be the key factor for providing patient-centered health care to meet the lifelong needs of people living with HIV and AIDS from diagnosis to death. However, there is currently no consensus on a PROM recommended for health care providers and researchers to assess health outcomes in people living with HIV and AIDS.

High-level de novo biosynthesis of cordycepin by systems metabolic engineering in Yarrowia lipolytica.

Cordycepin is a nucleoside antibiotic with various biological activities, which has wide applications in the area of cosmetic and medicine industries. However, the current production of cordycepin is costly and time-consuming. To construct the promising cell factory for high-level cordycepin production, firstly, the design and construction of cordycepin biosynthetic pathway were performed in Yarrowia lipolytica.

[Advances in the biosynthesis of pentostatin].

Pentostatin is a nucleoside antibiotics with a strong inhibitory effect on adenosine deaminase, and is widely used in the clinical treatment of malignant tumors. However, the high cost hampers its application. In the past 10 years, the biosynthesis of pentostatin were focused on strain breeding, optimization of medium composition and fermentation process.

Image processing metrics for phase identification of a multiaxis MEMS scanner used in single pixel imaging.

This paper applies image processing metrics to tracking of perturbations in mechanical phase delay in a multi-axis microelectromechanical system (MEMS) scanner. The compact mirror is designed to scan a laser beam in a Lissajous pattern during the collection of endoscopic confocal fluorescence images, but environmental perturbations to the mirror dynamics can lead to image registration errors and blurry images. A binarized, threshold-based blur metric and variance-based sharpness metric are introduced for detecting scanner phase delay.

Valproate Reverses Mania-Like Behavior of Mouse and Alters Monoamine Neurotransmitters Metabolism in the Hippocampus.

Background: Mice with a deletion at exon 19 of the circadian locomotor output cycles Kaput gene ( ) exhibit mania-like behavior and have been one of the most common animal models for bipolar disorder (BD). The predictive validity of the was investigated via studies using lithium previously. Determination of effects of other mood stabilizers on mouse would be helpful for better understanding of the mechanism underlined.

Motion Estimation for a Compact Electrostatic Microscanner via Shared Driving and Sensing Electrodes in Endomicroscopy.

We present a method to estimate high frequency rotary motion of a highly compact electrostatic micro-scanner using the same electrodes for both actuation and sensing. The accuracy of estimated rotary motion is critical for reducing blur and distortion in image reconstruction applications with the micro-scanner given its changing dynamics due to perturbations such as temperature. To overcome the limitation that no dedicated sensing electrodes are available in the proposed applications due to size constraints, the method adopts electromechanical amplitude modulation (EAM) to separate motion signal from parasitic capacitance feedthrough, and a novel non-linear measurement model is derived to characterize the relationship between large out-of-plane angular motion and circuit output.

[Correlation between altered levels of neurotransmitters in the frontal lobe and hippocampus and behavioral abnormalities in a Clock mutant mice modeling bipolar manic disorder].

Objective: To explore the correlation between altered levels of neurotransmitters in the frontal lobe and hippocampus and behavioral abnormalities in a Clock variant mice modeling bipolar disorder manic disorder.

Methods: Open field test and Elevated plus-maze test were carried out on the Clock mutant and wild-type control groups. The frontal lobe and hippocampus of Clock mutant mice and controls were dissected, and neurotransmitters in tissue extracts were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.

Ultra-Compact Microsystems-Based Confocal Endomicroscope.

Point-of-care medical diagnosis demands immediate feedback on tissue pathology. Confocal endomicroscopy can provide real-time in vivo images with histology-like features. The working channel in medical endoscopes are becoming smaller in dimension.

Integrated Imaging Methodology Detects Claudin-1 Expression in Premalignant Nonpolypoid and Polypoid Colonic Epithelium in Mice.

Objectives: Conventional colonoscopy with white light illumination detects colonic adenomas based on structural changes alone and is limited by a high miss rate. We aim to demonstrate an integrated imaging strategy that combines wide-field endoscopy and confocal endomicroscopy in real time to visualize molecular expression patterns in vivo to detect premalignant colonic mucosa.

Methods: A peptide specific for claudin-1 is labeled with Cy5.

Complete Genome Sequence of Bacteriocin-Producing Enterococcus faecium HY07.

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of the bacteriocin-producing strain HY07, isolated from traditional Chinese fermented sausages. The genome comprises 2,585,631 bp with 2,624 coding sequences, as assigned by NCBI, which may provide fundamental molecular information on elucidating the adaption mechanism of to the meat environment.

Multiplexed Targeting of Barrett's Neoplasia with a Heterobivalent Ligand: Imaging Study on Mouse Xenograft in Vivo and Human Specimens ex Vivo.

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a molecularly heterogeneous disease that is rising rapidly in incidence and has poor prognosis. We developed a heterobivalent peptide to target detection of early Barrett's neoplasia by combining monomer heptapeptides specific for either EGFR or ErbB2 in a heterodimer configuration. The structure of a triethylene glycol linker was optimized to maximize binding interactions to the surface receptors on cells.

Axial beam scanning in multiphoton microscopy with MEMS-based actuator.

We demonstrate a remotely located microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator that can translate >400 μm to perform axial beam scanning in a multiphoton microscope. We use a 2-dimensional MEMS mirror for lateral scanning, and collected multiphoton excited fluorescence images in either the horizontal or vertical plane with a field-of-view of either 270 × 270 or 270 × 200 μm, respectively, at 5 frames per second. Axial resolution varied from 4.

Multi-photon vertical cross-sectional imaging with a dynamically-balanced thin-film PZT z-axis microactuator.

Use of a thin-film piezoelectric microactuator for axial scanning during multi-photon vertical cross-sectional imaging is described. The actuator uses thin-film lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) to generate upward displacement of a central mirror platform, micro-machined from a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer to dimensions compatible with endoscopic imaging instruments. Device modeling in this paper focuses on existence of frequencies near device resonance producing vertical motion with minimal off-axis tilt even in the presence of multiple vibration modes and non-uniformity in fabrication outcomes.

Three-dimensional side-view endomicroscope for tracking individual cells .

We demonstrate a side-view endomicroscope using a monolithic 3-axis scanner placed in the post-objective position that performs either tilt or piston motion to achieve either optical scan angles >10° or large vertical displacements, respectively. This configuration allows for scaling down of instrument dimensions for high maneuverability and accurate positioning in vivo. Images exceeded either 700 × 600 μm in the horizontal plane or vertical depths of 200 μm.

In vivo near-infrared imaging of ErbB2 expressing breast tumors with dual-axes confocal endomicroscopy using a targeted peptide.

ErbB2 expression in early breast cancer can predict tumor aggressiveness and clinical outcomes in large patient populations. Accurate assessment with physical biopsy and conventional pathology can be limited by tumor heterogeneity. We aim to demonstrate real-time optical sectioning using a near-infrared labeled ErbB2 peptide that generates tumor-specific contrast in human xenograft breast tumors in vivo.

Visualizing Epithelial Expression in Vertical and Horizontal Planes With Dual Axes Confocal Endomicroscope Using Compact Distal Scanner.

The epithelium is a thin layer of tissue that lines hollow organs, such as colon. Visualizing in vertical cross sections with sub-cellular resolution is essential to understanding early disease mechanisms that progress naturally in the plane perpendicular to the tissue surface. The dual axes confocal architecture collects optical sections in tissue by directing light at an angle incident to the surface using separate illumination and collection beams to reduce effects of scattering, enhance dynamic range, and increase imaging depth.

Visualizing epithelial expression of EGFR in vivo with distal scanning side-viewing confocal endomicroscope.

Confocal endomicroscopy is an emerging imaging technology that has recently been introduced into the clinic to instantaneously collect "optical biopsies" in vivo with histology-like quality. Here, we demonstrate a fast scanner located in the distal end of a side-viewing instrument using a compact lens assembly with numerical aperture of 0.5 to achieve a working distance of 100 μm and field-of-view of 300 × 400 μm.

Overexpressed Claudin-1 Can Be Visualized Endoscopically in Colonic Adenomas In Vivo.

Background & Aims: Conventional white-light colonoscopy aims to reduce the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC has been found to arise from missed polypoid and flat precancerous lesions. We aimed to establish proof-of-concept for real-time endoscopic imaging of colonic adenomas using a near-infrared peptide that is specific for claudin-1.

In vivo photoacoustic tomography of EGFR overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma mouse xenograft.

EGFR is a promising cell surface target for in vivo imaging that is highly overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a common cancer worldwide. Peptides penetrate easily into tumors for deep imaging, and clear rapidly from the circulation to minimize background. We aim to demonstrate use of an EGFR specific peptide to detect HCC xenograft tumors in mice with photoacoustic imaging.