Ascorbate Oxidase Mimetic Activity of Copper(II) Oxide Nanoparticles.

Although oxidase mimetic nanozymes have been widely investigated, specific biological molecules have rarely been explored as substrates, particularly in the case of ascorbate oxidase (AAO) mimetic nanozymes. Herein, we demonstrate for the first time that copper(II) oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) catalyze the oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA) by dissolved O2 (as a green oxidant) to form dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA), thus functioning as a new kind of AAO mimic. Under neutral conditions, the Michaelis-Menten constant of CuO NPs (0.1302 mm) is similar to that of AAO (0.0840 mm). Furthermore, the robustness of CuO NPs is greater than that of AAO, thus making them suitable for applications under various conditions. As a demonstration, a fluorescence AA sensor based on the AAO mimetic activity of CuO NPs was developed. To obtain a fluorescent product, o-phenylenediamine (OPDA) was used to react with the DHAA produced by the oxidation of AA catalyzed by CuO NPs. The developed sensor was cost-effective and easy to fabricate and exhibited high selectivity/sensitivity with a wide linear range (1.25×10-6 to 1.125×10-4 m) and a low detection limit (3.2×10-8 m). The results are expected to aid in expanding the applicability of oxidase mimetic nanozymes in a variety of fields such as biology, medicine, and detection science.

Self-cascade reaction catalyzed by CuO nanoparticle-based dual-functional enzyme mimics.

It is desirable but challenging to assemble various biomimetic properties into a functional catalytic cascade system. In this work, cupric oxide nanoparticles were investigated as oxidase mimics for the aerobic oxidation of cysteine to cystine with the generation of hydrogen peroxide. Coupling this property with the peroxidase-like activity of CuO nanoparticles, we constructed a self-organized cascade reaction system based on a single-component nanozyme, which includes the oxidation of cysteine to yield cystine and hydrogen peroxide and the hydrogen peroxide-mediated oxidation of terephthalic acid to produce a fluorescence change. Based on this artificial enzymatic cascade reaction system, a fluorometric assay method with a low detection limit of 6.6nM was established for cysteine determination. This platform was then applied for the detection of cysteine in pharmaceutical products and human plasma, which yielded satisfactory results. Our investigations open up a new route and holds promise for the development and applications of multifunctional nanomaterials as enzyme mimics.

Dressings for Preventing Pressure Ulcers: A Meta-analysis.

The purpose of this analysis is to determine the effectiveness of dressing material in the prevention of pressure ulcers. Results showed that hydrocolloid, foam, and film were more effective than a standard care protocol in patients at risk for pressure ulcers.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Ostomy Adjustment Scale in Chinese Cancer Patients With Colostomies.

BACKGROUND: The Ostomy Adjustment Scale (OAS) has been widely used to measure the adjustment to an ostomy. Although the instrument had been used among subjects from various backgrounds, psychometric properties had never been evaluated. OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this study was to test the psychometric properties of the OAS among Chinese colostomy patients, and the secondary aim was to examine the predictors of colostomy adjustment. METHODS: The translated OAS was tested using a convenience sample of 207 colostomy patients from a university-affiliated cancer center in China. RESULTS: The content validity of the OAS was 0.91. Four items were removed during the process of validity and reliability testing. The final Chinese version of the OAS consisted of 30 items (OAS-C-30) with 4 subscales as follows: negative affect, normal functioning, therapy attitude, and life worry. The Cronbach's α, the intraclass correlation, and a split-half Spearman-Brown coefficient for the total scale were 0.915, 0.902 and 0.871, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that stoma self-efficacy, stoma acceptance, excessive aerofluxus, constipation, family relationship, and body image loss were the predictors of adjustment among Chinese colostomy patients. CONCLUSION: The OAS-C-30 has been proven to be a valid and reliable measure to assess the adjustment among colostomy patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The OAS-C-30 is a useful instrument to assess and monitor the level of adjustment among patients with permanent colostomies. The identified predictor variables for adjustment also provide insights to clinicians to assist them in planning interventions to facilitate the adjustment of colostomy patients.

Validation of the nonmotor symptoms questionnaire for Parkinson's disease: results from a Chinese pilot study.

We performed a cross-sectional study of 82 Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) enrolled during an 18-month period. We used a clinical interview to evaluate a Chinese version of the nonmotor symptoms questionnaire (NMSQuest) as an instrument for measuring the nonmotor symptoms (NMS) in Chinese patients with PD. The patients' cognitive deficit, depression/sleep, disease severity and motor status were assessed based on the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD)/Parkinson's disease sleep scale (PDSS), the modified Hoehn and Yahr staging scale (H&Y) and the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale part III (UPDRS III), respectively. Thirty items distributed in nine different domains of the NMSQuest were evaluated, and the association between the NMSQuest and MMSE, H&Y, UPDRS, HAMD and PDSS was identified. Significant correlations were observed between the NMSQuest and disease duration (rs = 0.272, p = 0.013), UPDRS total score (rs = 0.444, p < 0.001), UPDRS II (rs = 0.415, p < 0.001) and UPDRS III (rs = 0.228, p = 0.039). Furthermore, the sleep disorder and mood (depression/anxiety) domain of the NMSQuest were significantly correlated with the PDSS (rs = -0.471, p < 0.001) and HAMD (rs = 0.687, p < 0.001), respectively. Our results indicate that the Chinese version of the NMSQuest, a useful screening tool, can be considered as a comprehensive, practical measure for NMS evaluation in Chinese PD patients. The NMSQuest highlights the prevalence of the wide range of NMS and indicated good responsiveness and interpretability. We strongly recommend routine use of the simplified Chinese version of NMSQuest in this country.

Fluorescent hydrogen peroxide sensor based on cupric oxide nanoparticles and its application for glucose and L-lactate detection.

A novel fluorescent hydrogen peroxide sensor was developed based on the peroxidase-like activity of cupric oxide nanoparticles. Cupric oxide nanoparticles effectively catalyzed the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into hydroxyl radicals. Then terephthalic acid was oxidized by hydroxyl radical to form a highly fluorescent product. The linear range of hydrogen peroxide estimated to be 5.0 × 10(-6)-2.0 × 10(-4)M with a detection limit of 3.4 × 10(-7)M. Moreover, this detection system enabled the sensing of analytes which can enzymatically generate hydrogen peroxide. By coupling the oxidation of glucose or L-lactate catalyzed by their corresponding oxidase enzymes with terephthalic acid oxidation catalyzed by cupric oxide nanoparticles, sensitive assays of glucose and l-lactate with detection limits of 1.0 × 10(-6) and 4.5 × 10(-8)M were realized. The successful applications of this approach in human serum samples have also been demonstrated.

Patients after colostomy: relationship between quality of life and acceptance of disability and social support.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this research was to explore quality of life (QOL) and acceptance of disability and social support of colostomy patients as well as the relationship between these factors. METHODS: A descriptive, correlational study was conducted using four scales: the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Colorectal Cancer-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-CR38) scales, the Acceptance of Disability Scale (ADS), and the Social Relational Quality Scale (SRQS). A convenience sample of 111 colostomy patients from four hospitals in Guangzhou who underwent colostomy operation at least one month prior to the study and who visited the stoma clinic or association from August 2011 to February 2012 was evaluated for inclusion in the study. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 17.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The patients' general health status was better than the reference level recommended by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, and the overall ADS score was average. The SRQS score was similar to that found in a Hong Kong study. The general health status and dimensions of QOL were significantly correlated with ADS and all of its dimensions (P < 0.05). The general health status and dimensions of QOL were also significantly correlated with SRQS and all of its dimensions (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: QOL, acceptance of disability, and social relational quality of colostomy patients were closely related. Our results emphasize that patients should work to form rational values and close bonds with families and friends to achieve a better QOL.

[Organic gallium improves tretinoin-induced osteoporosis in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of organic gallium and gallium chloride on bone metabolism and their therapeutic effect against tretinoin-induced osteoporosis in rats. METHODS: Rat models of osteoporosis was established with intragastric administration of tretinoin at the daily dose of 85 mg/kg for 15 days and randomized into control, organic gallium and gallium chloride groups. After administration of the corresponding treatments (none for the control group) for 4 weeks, the changes of the indices for osteoporosis were evaluated through biochemical and pathological approaches. RESULTS: Tretinoin induced obvious changes in bone structure and contents of bone calcium and other elements, causing also significantly increased tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP), which suggested the development of osteoporosis. Administration of organic gallium and gallium chloride treatments increased the bone density, bone cortex thickness and the percentage of bone trabecula, and Ga, Ca, P contents in the femur and teeth, but lowered the activity of TRAP and AKP, suggesting decreased bone conversion rate. Compared with gallium chloride, organic gallium required smaller dose with better safety to produce better therapeutic effect. CONCLUSION: Organic gallium can be safe and effective for treatment of tretinoin-induced osteoporosis in rats.