A chain mediation model reveals the association between metacognition and quality of life in hematologic tumor patients.

The study aims to explore the relationship among metacognition (MC), fear of disease of progression (FoP), psychological distress (PD), and quality of life (QoL), and verify whether FoP and PD have a chain mediating effect between MC and QoL. 231 hematologic tumor patients in a large tertiary hospital were investigated by using Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire-30, Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scale. Data analyses were performed using IBM SPSS (version 25.

Description of three new species of the spider genus Jäger, 2000 (Araneae, Sparassidae) from China, Laos and Thailand, and the female of Zhang, Jäger & Liu, 2023.

With 252 species, Jäger, 2000, is the largest genus in the family Sparassidae and is widely distributed in South (49 species in Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan), East (158 species in China and Japan) and Southeast Asia (51 species in Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam). Few species have been found in more than one region. In this paper, three new species of are described from East and Southeast Asia.

Cytological, Physiological, and Transcriptomic Analyses of the Leaf Color Mutant () in Eggplant ( L.).

Leaf color mutants are ideal materials for studying chlorophyll metabolism, chloroplast development, and photosynthesis in plants. We discovered a novel eggplant ( L.) mutant (yellow leaf 20) that exhibits yellow leaves.

Ameliorative Effect of Morinda Officinalis Oligosaccharides on LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a disease characterized by extensive lung damage and rampant inflammation, with a high mortality rate and no effective treatments available. Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides (MOOs), derived from the root of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Morinda officinalis, known for its immune-boosting properties, presents a novel therapeutic possibility. To date, the impact of MOOs on ALI has not been explored.

Using Ballistocardiogram and Impedance Plethysmogram for Minimal Contact Measurement of Blood Pressure Based on a Body Weight-Fat Scale.

Electronic health (eHealth) is a strategy to improve the physical and mental condition of a human, collecting daily physiological data and information from digital apparatuses. Body weight and blood pressure (BP) are the most popular and important physiological data. The goal of this study is to develop a minimal contact BP measurement method based on a commercial body weight-fat scale, capturing biometrics when users stand on it.

Cinobufagin alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury by regulating autophagy through activation of the p53/mTOR pathway.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe clinical disorder characterized by dysregulated inflammatory responses, leading to high rates of morbidity and mortality. Cinobufagin, a primary component isolated from cinobufotalin, exerts strong anticancer effects. However, there are few reports on its role in ALI, and it is unclear whether cinobufagin affects lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI.

VEGF promotes diabetic retinopathy by upregulating the PKC/ET/NF-κB/ICAM-1 signaling pathway.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common microvascular complication in patients with diabetes mellitus. DR is caused by chronic hyperglycemia and is characterized by progressive loss of vision because of damage to the retinal microvasculature. In this study, we investigated the regulatory role and clinical significance of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/protein kinase C (PKC)/endothelin (ET)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) signaling pathway in DR using a rat model.

Clinical evaluation of AI-assisted screening for diabetic retinopathy in rural areas of midwest China.

Background: Although numerous studies have described the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening among diabetic populations, studies among populations in rural areas are rare. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application value of an AI-based diagnostic system for DR screening in rural areas of midwest China.

Methods: In this diagnostic accuracy study, diabetes mellitus (DM) patients in the National Basic Public Health Information Systems of Licheng County and Lucheng County of Changzhi city from July to December 2020 were selected as the target population.

Integrating Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses to Explore the Effect of Color Under Fruit Calyx on That of Fruit Apex in Eggplant ( L.).

Fruit color is an important commercial characteristic of eggplant ( L.), which affects both the profits of growers and consumer choice. Two eggplant inbred lines were discovered: "Z," which is a light purple color under the fruit calyx, with purple on the fruit apex; and "L," fruits of which are green under the calyx and at the apex.

COVID-19 induces new-onset insulin resistance and lipid metabolic dysregulation via regulation of secreted metabolic factors.

Abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism in COVID-19 patients were recently reported with unclear mechanism. In this study, we retrospectively investigated a cohort of COVID-19 patients without pre-existing metabolic-related diseases, and found new-onset insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and decreased HDL-C in these patients. Mechanistically, SARS-CoV-2 infection increased the expression of RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST), which modulated the expression of secreted metabolic factors including myeloperoxidase, apelin, and myostatin at the transcriptional level, resulting in the perturbation of glucose and lipid metabolism.

[Acupuncture-moxibustion treatment by stages based on the theory of "transformation of and " for premature ovarian insufficiency].

Objective: To compare the efficacy between acupuncture-moxibustion treatment by stages and femoston for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).

Methods: A total of 66 patients with POI were randomly divided into an observation group (33 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (33 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The patients in the observation group, based on the theory of "transformation of and ", were treated with acupuncture-moxibustion by stages in the postmenstrual period, ovulatory period, premenstrual period and menstrual period, once every other day, 3 times a week.

Author Correction: Temporal dynamics in viral shedding and transmissibility of COVID-19.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Clinical Characteristics of Patients Infected With the Novel 2019 Coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2) in Guangzhou, China.

Background: The clinical manifestations and factors associated with the severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections outside of Wuhan are not clearly understood.

Methods: All laboratory-confirmed cases with SARS-Cov-2 infection who were hospitalized and monitored in Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital were recruited from January 20 to February 10.

Results: A total of 275 patients were included in this study.

Temporal dynamics in viral shedding and transmissibility of COVID-19.

We report temporal patterns of viral shedding in 94 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and modeled COVID-19 infectiousness profiles from a separate sample of 77 infector-infectee transmission pairs. We observed the highest viral load in throat swabs at the time of symptom onset, and inferred that infectiousness peaked on or before symptom onset. We estimated that 44% (95% confidence interval, 25-69%) of secondary cases were infected during the index cases' presymptomatic stage, in settings with substantial household clustering, active case finding and quarantine outside the home.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of electroacpuncture combined with penetrating moxibustion for postpartum pelvic organ prolapse].

Objective: To compare the clinical therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with penetrating moxibustion and biofeedback electrical stimulation on postpartum pelvic organ prolapsed (POP).

Methods: A total of 60 patients with POP who had delivery 6 weeks ago were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the observation group, EA was applied at Zigong (EX-CA 1), Ciliao (BL 32), Huiyang (BL 35), etc.

Gene characterization and molecular pathway analysis of reverse thermosensitive genic male sterility in eggplant ( L.).

The naturally occurring mutant eggplant line 05ms was identified with reverse thermosensitive genic male sterility (rTGMS), but its temperature-responsive fertility mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we studied the flower morphology, anther cellular structure, and genome-wide gene expression of this rTGMS line. Candidate genes for thermosensitive male sterility during the microspore development of 05ms and the temperature-insensitive line S63 under low-temperature (LT) and high-temperature (HT) conditions were identified.

[Efficacy of electroacupuncture combined with penetrating moxibustion for postpartum stress urinary incontinence].

Objective: To compare the clinical effect differences between electroacupuncture (EA) combined with penetrating moxibustion and the biological feedback training of pelvic floor muscle for postpartum stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Methods: Sixty patients of SUI who had delivery 42 days ago were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. The observation group was treated with EA and penetrating moxibustion.

DNA-based micelles: synthesis, micellar properties and size-dependent cell permeability.

Functional nanomaterials based on molecular self-assembly hold great promise for applications in biomedicine and biotechnology. However, their efficacy could be a problem and can be improved by precisely controlling the size, structure, and functions. This would require a molecular engineering design capable of producing monodispersed functional materials characterized by beneficial changes in size, shape, and chemical structure.

DNA aptamer-micelle as an efficient detection/delivery vehicle toward cancer cells.

We report the design of a self-assembled aptamer-micelle nanostructure that achieves selective and strong binding of otherwise low-affinity aptamers at physiological conditions. Specific recognition ability is directly built into the nanostructures. The attachment of a lipid tail onto the end of nucleic acid aptamers provides these unique nanostructures with an internalization pathway.

Single-walled carbon nanotube as an effective quencher.

Over the past few years, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been the focus of intense research motivated by their unique physical and chemical properties. This review specifically summarizes recent progress in the development of fluorescence biosensors that integrate the quenching property of SWNTs and the recognition property of functional nucleic acids. SWNTs are substantially different from organic quenchers, showing superior quenching efficiency for a variety of fluorophores, with low background and high signal-to-noise ratio, as well as other advantages derived from the nanomaterial itself.

Locked nucleic acid based beacons for surface interaction studies and biosensor development.

DNA sensors and microarrays permit fast, simple, and real-time detection of nucleic acids through the design and use of increasingly sensitive, selective, and robust molecular probes. Specifically, molecular beacons (MBs) have been employed for this purpose; however, their potential in the development of solid-surface-based biosensors has not been fully realized. This is mainly a consequence of the beacon's poor stability because of the hairpin structure once immobilized onto a solid surface, commonly resulting in a low signal enhancement.

Carbon nanotubes protect DNA strands during cellular delivery.

To protect against nuclease digestion, or single-strand binding protein interactions, oligonucleotides for targeted delivery into intracellular systems must be stable. To accomplish this, we have developed single-walled carbon nanotubes as a carrier for single-stranded DNA probe delivery. This has resulted in superior biostability for intracellular application and, hence, has achieved the desired protective attributes, which are particularly important when DNA probes are used for intracellular measurements.

[Analysis on 2175 admitted cases of clonorchiasis sinensis in Guigang City].

Objective: To understand the epidemiological features of the hospitalized cases with Clonorchis sinensis infection in Guigang City of Guangxi Region.

Methods: Fecal samples were collected from patients each with 30-50 g and examined by sedimentation technique. Number of eggs was counted in randomly selected cases by Stoll's method.

Molecular engineering of DNA: molecular beacons.

Molecular beacons (MBs) are specifically designed DNA hairpin structures that are widely used as fluorescent probes. Applications of MBs range from genetic screening, biosensor development, biochip construction, and the detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms to mRNA monitoring in living cells. The inherent signal-transduction mechanism of MBs enables the analysis of target oligonucleotides without the separation of unbound probes.