Genuine multipartite entanglement measures based on multi-party teleportation capability.

Quantifying entanglement is vital to understand entanglement as a resource in quantum information processing, and many entanglement measures have been suggested for this purpose. When mathematically defining an entanglement measure, we should consider the distinguishability between entangled and separable states, the invariance under local transformation, the monotonicity under local operations and classical communication, and the convexity. These are reasonable requirements but may be insufficient, in particular when taking into account the usefulness of quantum states in multi-party quantum information processing. Therefore, if we want to investigate multipartite entanglement as a resource, then it can be necessary to consider the usefulness of quantum states in multi-party quantum information processing when we define a multipartite entanglement measure. In this paper, we define new multipartite entanglement measures for three-qubit systems based on the three-party teleportation capability, and show that these entanglement measures satisfy the requirements for being genuine multipartite entanglement measures. We also generalize our entanglement measures for N-qubit systems, where [Formula: see text], and discuss that these quantities may be good candidates to measure genuine multipartite entanglement.

Predicting Workplace Violence in the Emergency Department Based on Electronic Health Record Data.

INTRODUCTION: Emergency departments are extremely vulnerable to workplace violence, and emergency nurses are frequently exposed to workplace violence. We developed workplace violence prediction models using machine learning methods based on data from electronic health records. METHODS: This study was conducted using electronic health record data collected between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2021. Workplace violence cases were identified based on violence-related mentions in nursing records. Workplace violence was predicted using various factors related to emergency department visit and stay. RESULTS: The dataset included 1215 workplace violence cases and 6044 nonviolence cases. Random Forest showed the best performance among the algorithms adopted in this study. Workplace violence was predicted with higher accuracy when both ED visit and ED stay factors were used as predictors (0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.898-0.912) than when only ED visit factors were used. When both ED visit and ED stay factors were included for prediction, the strongest predictor of risk of WPV was patient dissatisfaction, followed by high average daily length of stay, high daily number of patients, and symptoms of psychiatric disorders. DISCUSSION: This study showed that workplace violence could be predicted with previous data regarding ED visits and stays documented in electronic health records. Timely prediction and mitigation of workplace violence could improve the safety of emergency nurses and the quality of nursing care. To prevent workplace violence, emergency nurses must recognize and continuously observe the risk factors for workplace violence from admission to discharge.

Effect of Sopoongsan on Skin Inflammation and Hyperlocomotion in Socially Isolated Mice with Atopic Dermatitis.

Psychological stress is a major exacerbating factor of atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Sopoongsan (SPS), a traditional herbal formula, has been indicated for the treatment of various skin disorders, including AD. This study investigated the effects of SPS on a 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene- (DNCB-) induced AD mice model exposed to social isolation (SI) stress. The severity of the AD symptoms and behavioral abnormalities was evaluated. SPS reduced the clinical skin score as evaluated with the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index and suppressed the cutaneous infiltration of T-lymphocyte cells, mast cells, and eosinophils in SI-AD mice. The SPS treatment decreased the total distance and mean speed and increased resting time in the open field test (OFT) for these mice. In addition, the time spent in the social zone in the social interaction test also improved when SPS treatment was given. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in the SI-AD mice were reduced by the oral administration of SPS. HaCaT and BV2 cells were used for the in vitro experiments. The pretreatment with SPS reduced the protein levels of the thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) in the HaCaT cells stimulated with TNF-α and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) (TI). SPS also suppressed TNF-α and IL-6 secretion in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated BV2 cells. These results imply that SPS could be a promising candidate for the treatment of AD in patients under stress conditions and at risk of exacerbation.

MBP-11901 Inhibits Tumor Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma through Multitargeted Inhibition of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases.

Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are aggressive tumors with a poor prognosis. Approved first-line treatments include sorafenib, lenvatinib, and a combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab; however, they do not cure HCC. We investigated MBP-11901 as a drug candidate for HCC. Cell proliferation and cytotoxicity were evaluated using normal and cancer human liver cell lines, while Western blotting and flow cytometry evaluated apoptosis. The anticancer effect of MBP-11901 was verified in vitro through migration, invasion, colony formation, and JC-1 MMP assays. In mouse models, the tumor volume, tumor weight, and bodyweight were measured, and cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed. The toxicity of MBP-11901 was investigated through GOT/GPT and histological analyses in the liver and kidney. The signaling mechanism of MBP-11901 was investigated through kinase assays, phosphorylation analysis, and in silico docking simulations. Results. MBP-11901 was effective against various human HCC cell lines, leading to the disappearance of most tumors when administered orally in animal models. This effect was dose-dependent, with no differences in efficacy according to administration intervals. MBP-11901 induced anticancer effects by targeting the signaling mechanisms of FLT3, VEGFR2, c-KIT, and PDGFRß. MBP-11901 is suggested as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of advanced or unresectable liver cancer.

Seungmagalgeun-Tang, a Traditional Herbal Formula, Alleviates Skin Inflammation and Depression-Like Behavior in Atopic Dermatitis Mice under Sleep Deprivation Conditions.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease, which can be worsened under sleep deprivation (SD) conditions. This study investigated the efficacy and the mechanism of action of the traditional herbal formula Seungmagalgeun-tang (SMGGT) on the inflammation and behavioral changes in a mouse model of AD exposed to SD. SMGGT decreased levels of IgE, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-13, and mast cell infiltration and reduced the expression of CD3 in the mouse skin. SMGGT also reversed the SD-induced increase in corticosterone and decrease in melatonin level. Furthermore, SMGGT reduced the immobility time in the tail suspension test significantly. HaCaT cells and HMC-1 cells were used to investigate the effects of SMGGT on cell signaling pathways. In TNF-α/IFN-γ (TI) treated HaCaT cells, SMGGT reduced production of TARC/CCL17 and MDC/CCL22 and suppressed the p38 MAPK, STAT1, and NF-κB pathways. In substance P (SP)/CRH-stimulated HMC-1 cells, SMGGT decreased VEGF production and inhibited ERK phosphorylation. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis revealed that puerarin and paeoniflorin might contribute to the effects of SMGGT by targeting several AD-related molecules and pathways. Puerarin and paeoniflorin exerted anti-inflammatory effects by decreasing production of MDC/CCL22 and IL-6 in TI-treated HaCaT cells and VEGF production in SP/CRH-stimulated HMC-1 cells. This study suggests that SMGGT with puerarin and paeoniflorin as main bioactive components alleviates skin inflammation and depression-like behavior in a sleep-deprived mouse model of AD.

Coptisine Alleviates Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-like Skin Lesions and Anxiety-like Behavior in Mice.

Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin disorder, which can be associated with psychological disorders, such as anxiety and depression. This study investigated the efficacy and the mechanism of action of a natural compound coptisine using imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis mice. Coptisine reduced the severity of psoriasis-like skin lesions, decreased epidermal hyperplasia and the levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-22. Furthermore, coptisine improved IMQ-induced anxiety in mice by increasing the number of entries and time in open arms in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Coptisine also lowered the levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1ß in the prefrontal cortex of psoriasis mice. HaCaT keratinocytes and BV2 microglial cells were used to investigate the effects of coptisine in vitro. In M5-treated HaCaT cells, coptisine decreased the production of IL-6, MIP-3α/CCL20, IP-10/CXCL10, and ICAM-1 and suppressed the NF-κB signaling pathway. In LPS-stimulated BV2 cells, coptisine reduced the secretion of TNF-α and IL-1ß. These findings suggest that coptisine might be a potential candidate for psoriasis treatment by improving both disease severity and psychological comorbidities.

Quantum cryptographic resource distillation and entanglement.

We look into multipartite quantum states on which quantum cryptographic protocols including quantum key distribution and quantum secret sharing can be perfectly performed, and define the quantum cryptographic resource distillable rate as the asymptotic rate at which such multipartite state can be distilled from a given multipartite state. Investigating several relations between entanglement and the rate, we show that there exists a multipartite bound entangled state whose quantum cryptographic resource distillable rate is strictly positive, that is, there exists a multipartite entangled state which is not distillable, but can be useful for quantum cryptography such as quantum key distribution and quantum secret sharing.

Nursing staff factors influencing pain management in the emergency department: Both quantity and quality matter.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal pain is one of the most common symptoms for presentation to the emergency department (ED). However, administration of analgesics is often delayed and pain reassessment is often missed. We investigated the effect of several nursing staff factors on the time to administer analgesics and pain reassessment in ED. METHOD: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Korea. The subjects were adult patients who visited the ED for abdominal pain and received analgesics in 2019. Nursing staff factors were defined as the nurse-to-patient ratio and the nurse's experience in the ED. Reassessment was classified into three groups: non-reassessment, reassessment in ≤ 1 h, and reassessment in ≥ 1 h. Patient characteristics and the analgesics' name were collected. The effect of nursing staff factors on the administration time was analyzed using a linear mixture model, and the differences in the nurse, and patient characteristics in the three reassessment groups were evaluated using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: A total of 1428 cases were included, 54.1% of which received opioids. The median time from prescription to administration (TTA) was 16 min, and pain reassessment was conducted in 55.0%. TTA tended to increase as the nurse-to-patient ratio increased. Nurses in the two reassessment groups had more experience than those in the non-assessment group. CONCLUSION: Both the nurse-to-patient ratio and experience in the ED had a significant impact on pain management. Therefore, appropriate ED nurse staffing levels considering the unpredictable and fluctuating number of patients, and nurse retention strategies are needed.

Gyogamdan, a Traditional Medicine Prescription, Ameliorated Dermal Inflammation and Hyperactive Behavior in an Atopic Dermatitis Mouse Model Exposed to Psychological Stress.

Psychological stress (PS) plays a significant role as an aggravating factor in atopic dermatitis (AD). The traditional medicine prescription, Gyogamdan, has been used to treat chest discomfort and mood disorders caused by PS. This study investigated the effects of an ethanolic extract of Gyogamdan (GGDE) on stress-associated AD models and the underlying mechanisms. 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene- (DNCB-) treated BALB/c mice were exposed to social isolation (SI) stress. The effects of orally administered GGDE (100 or 500 mg/kg) were evaluated by ELISA, western blotting, and an open field test (OFT). SI stress exaggerated the skin inflammation and induced locomotor hyperactivity in the AD mouse model. GGDE reduced the levels of IgE, TNF-α, IL-13, eotaxin, and VEGF and mast cell/eosinophil infiltration and prevented the decreases in the levels of involucrin and loricrin in the skin. GGDE also suppressed the SI-induced increases in corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and corticosterone (CORT) in socially isolated AD mice. Furthermore, GGDE reduced traveling distances and mean speed significantly in the OFT. The in vitro experiments were performed using HaCaT, HMC-1, PC12, and BV2 cells. In the TNF-α/IFN-γ- (TI-) stimulated HaCaT cells, GGDE decreased the thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) production significantly by inhibiting p-STAT1 and NF-κB signaling. GGDE also reduced VEGF production in HMC-1 cells stimulated with CRH/substance P (SP) by inhibiting p-ERK signaling pathway. GGDE increased the cell viability significantly and suppressed apoptosis in CORT-stimulated PC12 cells. Moreover, GGDE suppressed the LPS-induced production of NO, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 in BV2 cells. These results suggest that GGDE might be useful in patients with AD, which is exacerbated by PS.

Natural Compound Mixture, Containing Emodin, Genipin, Chlorogenic Acid, Cimigenoside, and Ginsenoside Rb1, Ameliorates Psoriasis-Like Skin Lesions by Suppressing Inflammation and Proliferation in Keratinocytes.

Herbal combinations of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Gardeniae Fructus, Cimicifugae Rhizoma, and Ginseng Radix have been used in traditional formulas to treat the symptoms of heat and dryness. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of a natural compound mixture (PSM) of these herbal combinations, containing emodin, genipin, chlorogenic acid, cimigenoside, and ginsenoside Rb1, for the treatment of psoriasis and its underlying molecular mechanisms. PSM was applied topically to the dorsal skin lesions of imiquimod- (IMQ-) induced C57BL/6 mice, and the expression of the proinflammatory mediators was investigated. The topical application of 1% PSM reduced psoriasis-like symptoms in IMQ-induced C57BL/6 mice significantly. PSM also attenuated the production of IFN-γ, IL-1ß, and IL-6 in skin lesions. Histological analysis showed that PSM had antipsoriatic effects by reducing the lesional epidermal thickness. Either M5 (IL-1α, IL-17A, IL-22, oncostatin M, and TNF-α, 10 ng/ml each) or IL-22- (100 ng/ml) stimulated HaCaT cells were used to examine the efficacy and underlying mechanism of PSM. In M5-stimulated HaCaT cells, PSM inhibited the production of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL) 10 and C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL) 20 effectively. Moreover, compared to the use of a single compound, it had synergistic inhibitory effects in CXCL8 production. PSM suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38, and STAT3 signaling pathways in M5-stimulated HaCaT cells. Furthermore, PSM reduced the proliferation rate and K16 and K17 expressions in IL-22-stimulated HaCaT cells by inhibiting the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. These results suggest that PSM may have a therapeutic potential in the treatment of psoriasis lesions.

A Natural Compound Mixture Containing Arctigenin, Hederagenin, and Baicalein Alleviates Atopic Dermatitis in Mice by Regulating HPA Axis and Immune Activity.

Forsythiae Fructus, Lonicerae Flos, and Scutellariae Radix are medicinal herbs that possess anti-inflammatory and anti-atopic effects. Hence, we investigated the effects of a mixture (ADM), containing arctigenin, hederagenin, and baicalein, which are the main compound from these herbs on atopic dermatitis (AD) skin lesions and the underlying molecular mechanisms. ADM was topically applied to dorsal skin lesions of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene- (DNCB-) induced ICR mice, and the expressions of proinflammatory mediators and HPA axis hormones were investigated. The topical application of 0.5% ADM significantly reduced the DNCB-induced symptoms of AD in ICR mice. Histological analysis showed that ADM exerted antiatopic effects by reducing the epidermal thickness and mast cell infiltration into skin lesions. 0.5% ADM attenuated the levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, and VEGF in skin lesions and serum IgE. The production of Th1-/Th2-related cytokines in splenic tissues, including TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-12, and IL-4, were also decreased by ADM treatment. ADM diminished corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and corticosteroid (CORT) production in DNCB-induced mice. In vitro, ADM reduced the productions of TARC/CCL17, MDC/CCL22, IL-6, and ICAM-1 in TNF-α/IFN-γ- (TI-) stimulated HaCaT cells by suppressing the ERK and JNK signaling pathways. In addition, ADM inhibited corticotropin-releasing hormone/substance P- (CRH/SP-) induced VEGF production in HMC-1 cells. These results suggest that ADM may have therapeutic potential in AD by reducing inflammation and attenuating HPA axis activation.