Effects of bradycardia, hypoxemia and early intubation on bronchopulmonary dysplasia in very preterm infants: An observational study.

BACKGROUND: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common pulmonary complication in preterm infants. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to explore the effects of bradycardia, hypoxemia, and early intubation on BPD in very preterm infants. METHODS: This is a prospective observational cohort study. Preterm infants with a mean gestational age of 28.67 weeks were recruited from two level III neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Taiwan. Continuous electrocardiography was used to monitor heart rates and oxygen saturation (SpO2). Infants were monitored for heart rates of <100 beats per minute and SpO2 levels of <90 % lasting for 30 s. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the effects of bradycardia, hypoxemia, and early intubation on BPD in very preterm infants. Model fit was visually assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: Bradycardia, hypoxemia, and early intubation significantly increased the odds of BPD among the preterm infants (N = 39) during NICU stay; the odds ratios for bradycardia, hypoxemia, and early intubation for BPD versus non-BPD were 1.058, 1.013, and 29.631, respectively (all p < 0.05). A model combining bradycardia, hypoxemia, and early intubation accurately predicted BPD development (area under the curve = 0.919). CONCLUSIONS: Bradycardia, hypoxemia, and early intubation significantly increased the odds of BPD among very preterm infants during NICU stay. The model combining bradycardia, hypoxemia, and early intubation accurately predicted BPD development.

Determinants of quality of life in frontline healthcare providers caring for COVID-19 patients.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the factors affecting quality of life in healthcare providers who care for patients with COVID-19. BACKGROUND: Healthcare providers caring for COVID-19 patients during the pandemic suffered a deterioration in their quality of life. Several studies have explored their psychological impact of working with COVID patients, but none have examined the causes of this deterioration. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: In the current study, the authors investigated the factors affecting quality of life in 293 healthcare providers recruited from a medical centre in northern Taiwan who had recently cared for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 by analysing their responses to an online self-report questionnaire, using bivariate correlations and structural equation modelling. Reporting of this research adheres to the STROBE guideline. RESULTS: The study identified an important sequence of factors that mediated the effects of perceived success of epidemic prevention policies, family relations problems and education level on quality of life in a sample of healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients. The mediators were use of approach-oriented coping strategies and current mental health status. Specifically, use of approach-oriented coping strategies was found to directly cause improved quality of life and indirectly cause improved mental health, whereas use of avoidant coping strategies was found to directly cause worsening of mental health. Poor mental health predicted poor quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that implementation of sound epidemic prevention policies that promote adoption of approach-oriented coping behaviour should lead to a better quality of life in the future for healthcare providers working in challenging circumstances. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Assessment of these policies as well as the providers' family relations are necessary first steps to improving the success of approach-oriented coping behaviour in this population, which in turn can improve their mental health and quality of life. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Neither patients nor members of the public were involved in the design or execution of the study.

The interrelationships between neuronal viability, synaptic integrity, microglial responses, and amyloid-beta formation in an in vitro neurotrauma model.

The interrelationships between neuronal viability, synaptic integrity, and microglial responses remain in infancy. In dealing with the question, we induced a stretch injury to evaluate the mechanical effects of trauma on rat primary cortical neurons and BV2 microglial cells in a transwell culture system. The viability of primary neurons and BV2 cells was determined by MTT. Synaptic integrity was evaluated by determining the expression of beta-secretase 1 (BACE1), amyloid-beta (Aß), microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), and synaptophysin (vehicle protein). Both CD16/32-positive (CD16/32+) and CD206-positive (CD206+) microglia cells were detected by immunofluorescence staining. The phagocytic ability of the BV2 cells was determined using pHrodo E. coli BioParticles conjugates and flow cytometry. We found that stretch injury BV2 cells caused reduced viability and synaptic abnormalities characterized by Aß accumulation and reductions of BACE1, MAP2, and synaptophysin in primary neurons. Intact BV2 cells exhibited normal phagocytic ability and were predominantly CD206+ microglia cells, whereas the injured BV2 cells exhibited reduced phagocytic ability and were predominantly CD16/32+ microglial cells. Like a stretch injury, the injured BV2 cells can cause both reduced viability and synaptic abnormalities in primary neurons; intact BV2 cells, when cocultured with primary neurons, can protect against the stretch-injured-induced reduced viability and synaptic abnormalities in primary neurons. We conclude that CD206+ and CD16/32+ BV-2 cells can produce neuroprotective and cytotoxic effects on primary cortical neurons.

Uncovering the Inhibitory Molecular Mechanism of Pomegranate Peel to Urinary Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma Using Proteomics Techniques.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit demonstrates the repressive effectiveness of many tumors. Our previous studies showed that the PEP (pomegranate peel extract) E2 fraction obtained from the ethyl acetate layer of the pomegranate peel's ethanol extract exhibited the highest inhibitory activities to induce Urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma (UBUC) cell apoptosis. The ethyl acetate layer could lower the volume and weight of T24 tumors and initiate apoptosis in nude mice xenografted bladder tumors. In this study, we intended to clarify the inhibitory molecular process of Taiwanese local pomegranate peel to urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma using a proteomics strategy. Gel-based proteomics (two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with tandem mass spectrometry) was used to get an insight into the molecular mechanisms initiated by PEPE2 to evoke bladder cancer cell apoptosis. We found eleven down-regulated and eight up-regulated proteins in PEPE2-treated T24 cells. Our results implied that these PEPE2-dysregulated proteins belong to cell apoptosis, cell proliferation, death receptor signaling, JAK/STAT signaling, the PPAR pathway, the PPARα/RXR α pathway, Rho family GTPase signaling, and RhoGDI signaling. In addition, HSP90 and PTP1B proteins, associated with apoptosis, were de-regulated in xenografted bladder tumors in nude mice fed with an ethyl acetate layer of ethanol extract. The findings above implied that pomegranate might be a potential chemopreventive resource for UBUC carcinogenesis.

A Rare Case of Cholecystoduodenal Fistula Complicated With Gallstone Ileus and Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Gallstone ileus is a rare presentation of cholelithiasis, which usually impacts the narrowest part of the bowel, the ileocecal valve. This occurs as a result of a bilioenteric fistula where a gallstone passed through and entered the gastrointestinal tract. It is most commonly encountered in elder patients and predominantly in females. Abdominal computed tomography is the investigation of choice for diagnosis in the majority of cases. Here, we present a 68-year-old female patient with a choledochoduodenal fistula complicated by upper gastrointestinal bleeding and gallstone ileus.

A Novel Intensity-Based Approach to Increasing Prefrontal Cerebral Oxygenation by Walking Exercise.

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) increases after moderately intense exercise and is significantly correlated with cognitive function. However, no intensity-based physiological indicator for enhancing rCBF during low- to-moderate-intensity exercise has been proposed. The purpose of this study was to develop a physiological indicator housed in a wearable device to determine whether low-to-moderate intensity walking can increase rCBF. A cross-sectional study with four parallel arms was performed. Each of 114 participants was randomly assigned to either the moderate, low-to-moderate, low, or very low walking intensity groups. A novel dynamic cardiac force meter (CFM) was used to quantify walking intensity. Heart rate and hemoencephalography (HEG) were measured during each phase of the session. Compared to baseline, HEG significantly increased in both the submaximal exercise and recovery phases in members of the low-to-moderate intensity group but not the very low intensity group. Low-to-moderate intensity walking improves prefrontal cerebral blood oxygenation. The present results demonstrate the usefulness of a dynamic CFM housed in a wearable device for quantifying the intensity of walking exercise aimed at increasing prefrontal blood oxygenation. The results of the study may help guide further development of exercise strategies for brain disease patients and the ageing population.

Efficacy of Breast Milk Olfactory and Gustatory Interventions on Neonates' Biobehavioral Responses to Pain during Heel Prick Procedures.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of breast milk odor either alone or in combination with breast milk taste (via syringe-feeding) to alleviate neonates' biobehavioral responses to pain during heel-prick procedures. This prospective randomized controlled trial recruited 114 neonates by convenience sampling from a newborn unit of a medical center in Taiwan. Neonates were randomly assigned to three groups: control (gentle touch + human voice), control + breast milk odor, and control + breast milk odor + breast milk taste. Heart rate, oxygen saturation, and voice recordings of crying were measured across heel-prick procedures: baseline, no stimuli (stage 0); during heel prick (Stages 1-4); and recovery (Stages 5-10). Generalized estimating equations and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis compared differences in changes between groups for heart rate, oxygen saturation, and time to crying cessation. Changes in mean heart rate and oxygen saturation in neonates receiving breast milk odor or breast milk odor + breast milk taste were significantly less than those at the corresponding stage for the control group. Among neonates receiving breast milk odor or breast milk odor + breast milk taste, hazard rate ratios for crying cessation were 3.016 and 6.466, respectively. Mother's breast milk olfactory and gustatory interventions could stabilize the biobehavioral responses to pain during heel prick procedures in neonates.

Effects of a tripartite intervention on biological stress in preterm infants during heel pricks for newborn screening: A randomized controlled trial.

This prospective randomized trial examined the effects of a tripartite intervention (behavioral state modulation + nonnutritive sucking + tucking) on stress from procedural pain during heel pricks. Blood samples for routine screening were collected by heel pricks 48 h after birth (Stage 1) and at ≥37 weeks' gestation (Stage 2); salivary cortisol levels (SCLs) pre-prick (T0) and 20 min post-prick (T1) assessed stress. Preterm infants (n = 64) sampled by convenience at Level III neonatal care units were randomly assigned to the control condition (usual care) or intervention condition (tripartite intervention). Generalized estimating equations examined differences in salivary cortisol between conditions. After adjusting for effects of gestational age, postmenstrual age, and baseline SCLs, (1) at Stage 1, the change in salivary cortisol from T0 to T1 in preterm infants who received the tripartite intervention was, on average, significantly lower by 0.431 units (log scale) than the change in preterm infants who received the control condition (p < 0.001); (2) in the tripartite intervention condition, the difference between the change in mean SCLs from T0 to T1 at Stages 1 and 2 was significantly lower by 0.287 units (log scale), on average than between the change at Stages 1 and 2 in the control condition (p = 0.026). The provision of a tripartite intervention during heel prick significantly decreased the raise of SCLs compared with infants receiving usual care, suggesting lower stress. Clinicians could easily implement the tripartite intervention for heel-stick support; however, replication is needed before recommending its incorporation into routine heel stick and other stressful procedures.

Breastmilk as a Multisensory Intervention for Relieving Pain during Newborn Screening Procedures: A Randomized Control Trial.

The study aim was to explore the effects of multisensory breastmilk interventions on short-term pain of infants during newborn screening. This is a randomized controlled trial. A total of 120 newborns were recruited and assigned by randomization to one of three treatment conditions: Condition 1 = routine care (gentle touch + verbal comfort); Condition 2 = breastmilk odor + routine care; or Condition 3 = breastmilk odor + taste + routine care. Pain was scored with the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS). Data were collected from video recordings at 1 min intervals over the 11 phases of heel sticks: phase 1, 5 min before heel stick without stimuli (baseline); phase 2 to phase 6 (during heel stick); and phase 7 to phase 11 (recovery). Generalized estimating equations compared differences in pain scores for newborns over phases among the three conditions. Compared with the routine care, provision of the odor and taste of breastmilk reduce NIPS scores during heel sticks (B = -4.36, SE = 0.45, p < 0.001 [phase6]), and during recovery (B = -3.29, SE = 0.42, p < 0.001 [phase7]). Our findings provide new data, which supports the use of multisensory interventions that include breastmilk odor and taste in combination with gentle touch and verbal comfort to relieve pain in infants undergoing newborn screening.

Machine Learning Algorithms to Predict In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to severe adverse clinical outcomes, including death and disability. Early detection of in-hospital mortality in high-risk populations may enable early treatment and potentially reduce mortality using machine learning. However, there is limited information on in-hospital mortality prediction models for TBI patients admitted to emergency departments. The aim of this study was to create a model that successfully predicts, from clinical measures and demographics, in-hospital mortality in a sample of TBI patients admitted to the emergency department. Of the 4881 TBI patients who were screened at the emergency department at a high-level first aid duty hospital in northern Taiwan, 3331 were assigned in triage to Level I or Level II using the Taiwan Triage and Acuity Scale from January 2008 to June 2018. The most significant predictors of in-hospital mortality in TBI patients were the scores on the Glasgow coma scale, the injury severity scale, and systolic blood pressure in the emergency department admission. This study demonstrated the effective cutoff values for clinical measures when using machine learning to predict in-hospital mortality of patients with TBI. The prediction model has the potential to further accelerate the development of innovative care-delivery protocols for high-risk patients.

Calling nurses to care for burn victims after color-dust explosion.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals follow codes of ethics, making them responsible for providing holistic care to all disaster victims. However, this often results in ethical dilemmas due to the need to provide rapid critical care while simultaneously attending to a complex spectrum of patient needs. These dilemmas can cause negative emotions to accumulate over time and impact physiological and psychological health, which can also threaten nurse-patient relationships. AIM: This study aimed to understand the experience of nurses who cared for burn victims of the color-dust explosion and the meaning of ethical relationships between nurse and patient. RESEARCH DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study using a phenomenological approach. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT: Clinical nurses who provided care to the patients of the Formosa color-dust explosion of 2015 were selected by purposive sampling (N = 12) from a medical center in Taiwan. Data were collected using individual in-depth semi-structured interviews. Audiotaped interviews were transcribed and analyzed using Colaizzi's method. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: This study was approved by the institutional review board of the study hospital. All participants provided written informed consent. FINDINGS: Three main themes described the essence of the ethical dilemmas experienced by nurses who cared for the burn-injured patients: (1) the calling must be answered, (2) the calling provoked my feelings, and (3) the calling called out my strengths. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare providers should recognize that nurses believed they had an ethical responsibility to care for color-dust explosion burn victims. Understanding the feelings of nurses during the care of patients and encouraging them to differentiate between the self and the other by fostering patient-nurse relationships based on intersubjectivity could help nurses increase self-care and improve patient caregiving.

Solar Power Can Substantially Prolong Maximum Achievable Airtime of Quadcopter Drones.

Sunlight energy is potentially excellent for small drones, which can often operate during daylight hours and fly high enough to avoid cloud blockade. However, the best solar cells provide limited power, compared to conventional power sources, making their use for aerial vehicles difficult to realize, especially in rotorcraft where significant lift ordinarily generated by a wing is already sacrificed for the ability to hover. In recent years, advances in materials (use of carbon-fiber components, improvement in specific solar cells and motors) have finally brought solar rotorcraft within reach. Here, the application is explored through a concise mathematical model of solar rotorcraft based on the limits of solar power generation and motor power consumption. Multiple solar quadcopters based on this model with majority solar power are described. One of them has achieved an outdoor airtime over 3 hours, 48 times longer than it can last on just battery alone with the solar cells carried as dead weight and representing a significant prolongation of drone operation. Solar-power fluctuations during long flight and their interaction with power requirements are experimentally characterized. The general conclusion is that solar cells have reached high enough efficiencies and can outperform batteries under the right conditions for quadcopters.

Ischemia/reperfusion injured intestinal epithelial cells cause cortical neuron death by releasing exosomal microRNAs associated with apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis.

To date, there is no good evidence that intestine epithelial cells (IEC) affected by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury are able to cause cortical neuron injury directly. Additionally, it remains unclear whether the neuronal damage caused by I/R injured IEC can be affected by therapeutic hypothermia (TH, 32 °C). To address these questions, we performed an oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) affected IEC-6-primary cortical neuron coculture system under normothermia (37 °C) or TH (32 °C) conditions. It was found that OGD caused hyperpermeability in IEC-6 cell monolayers. OGD-preconditioned IEC-6 cells caused cortical neuronal death (e.g., decreased cell viability), synaptotoxicity, and neuronal apoptosis (evidenced by increased caspase-3 expression and the number of TUNEL-positive cells), necroptosis (evidenced by increased receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase-1 [RIPK1], RIPK3 and mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase [MLKL] expression), and pyroptosis (evidenced by an increase in caspase-1, gasdermin D [GSDMD], IL-1ß, IL-18, the apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain [ASC], and nucleotide oligomerization domain [NOD]-like receptor [NLRP]-1 expression). TH did not affect the intestinal epithelial hyperpermeability but did attenuate OGD-induced neuronal death and synaptotoxicity. We also performed quantitative real-time PCR to quantify the genes encoding 84 exosomal microRNAs in the medium of the control-IEC-6, the control-neuron, the OGD-IEC-6 at 37 °C, the OGD-IEC-6 at 32 °C, the neuron cocultured with OGD-IEC-6 at 37 °C, and the neurons cocultured with OGD-IEC-6 at 32 °C. We found that the control IEC-6 cell s or cortical neurons are able to secrete a basal level of exosomal miRNAs in their medium. OGD significantly up-regulated the basal level of each parameter for IEC-6 cells. As compared to those of the OGD-IEC-6 cells or the control neurons, the OGD-IEC-6 cocultured neurons had significantly higher levels of 19 exosomal miRNAs related to apoptosis, necroptosis, and/or pyroptosis events. Our results identify that I/R injured intestinal epithelium cells can induce cortical neuron death via releasing paracrine mediators such as exosomal miRNAs associated with apoptosis, necroptosis, and/or pyroptosis, which can be counteracted by TH.

Effects of Combined Use of Mother's Breast Milk, Heartbeat Sounds, and Non-Nutritive Sucking on Preterm Infants' Behavioral Stress During Venipuncture: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: Even routine procedures can cause pain and stress, and can be harmful to the fast-growing brain of preterm infants. Mitigating pain and stress with sucrose and analgesics has side effects; thus, an alternate choice is the use of natural breast milk and infants' sensory capabilities. Therefore, this study examined the effects of different integrations of sensory experiences-mother's breast milk odor and taste (BM-OT), heartbeat sounds (HBs), and non-nutritive sucking (NNS)-on preterm infant's behavioral stress during venipuncture. DESIGN: This study was a prospective, randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Infants born preterm (<37 weeks' gestational age) were enrolled in the study through convenience sampling, and randomly assigned to the following conditions: (condition 1) routine care (n = 36); (condition 2) BM-OT (n = 33); (condition 3) BM-OT + HBs (n = 33); or (condition 4) BM-OT + HBs + NNS (n = 36). Crying duration from puncture to recovery period was recorded using a voice recorder. Facial actions and body movements were measured using an infant behavioral coding scheme and transformed into frequencies during seven stages: baseline (stage 0), disinfecting (stage 1), venipuncture (stage 2), and the recovery period for 10 minutes (stages 3-6). FINDINGS: Data were analyzed for 138 preterm infants. The corresponding median times to stop crying for conditions 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 137, 79, 81, and 39 s, respectively; the instantaneous occurrence rates of stopping crying for conditions 2, 3, and 4 were 1.469, 1.574, and 2.996 times greater than for condition 1, respectively. Infants receiving conditions 3 and 4 had significantly fewer occurrences of facial actions (stage 6 and stages 4-6, respectively) and body movements (stages 3-6 for both); however, there were no significant reductions in stress behaviors for condition 2 (BM-OT). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of BM-OT, HBs, and NNS could be provided to preterm infants as interventions to prevent and reduce behavioral stress, and facilitate pain recovery during venipuncture procedures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinicians should be educated about how to recognize preterm infants' behavioral stress, and to incorporate different sensory combinations of respective mothers' BM, HBs, and NNS into painful procedures to help preterm infants recover from distress.

Integration of Different Sensory Interventions From Mother's Breast Milk for Preterm Infant Pain During Peripheral Venipuncture Procedures: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of integrating mother's breast milk (BM) with three different combinations of sensory stimuli on preterm infant pain during peripheral venipuncture procedures. DESIGN: A prospective, repeated-measures randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Preterm infants (gestational age between 28 and 37 weeks, and in stable condition) needing venipuncture were recruited by convenience sampling (N = 140) and randomly assigned to four treatment conditions: (a) routine care (condition 1); (b) BM odor or taste (condition 2); (c) BM odor or taste + heartbeat sounds (HBs; condition 3), and (d) BM odor or taste + HBs + non-nutritive sucking (NNS; condition 4). Pain scores were assessed based on the Premature Infant Pain Profile-Revised (PIPP-R) over nine phases: baseline (phase 0, 5 min without stimuli before venipuncture), disinfecting (phase 1), during venipuncture (phase 2), and a 10-min recovery (phases 3-8). FINDINGS: Infants who received BM odor or taste + HBs + NNS had significantly lower increases in pain scores from baseline compared with controls across phases 1 through 8. Infants treated with either condition 2 or 3 demonstrated significant reductions in mild pain during disinfecting and recovery phases, as compared with the controls. When condition 2 was used as the reference, there were no significant differences in pain scores between the infants receiving condition 3 across the nine phases, suggesting mothers' HBs have only mild analgesic effects on venipuncture pain. CONCLUSIONS: Integration of mother's BM odor or taste, HBs, and tactile NNS should be considered as an intervention for alleviation of procedural pain for preterm infants. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinicians should incorporate the integrated sensory intervention into caregiving support for preterm infants undergoing short painful procedures.

Factors Associated With Preterm Infants' Circadian Sleep/Wake Patterns at the Hospital.

This prospective repeated-measures study explored potential factors (postmenstrual age, body weight, gender, chronological age, illness severity, and circadian rhythm) related to preterm infants' circadian sleep/wake patterns. Circadian sleep/wake patterns were measured using an Actiwatch for 3 continuous days in preterm infants (gestational age of 28-36.4 weeks) in a neonatal intensive care unit and hospital nursery. Potential factors associated with circadian sleep/wake patterns were analyzed using the generalized estimating equation. For our sample of 30 preterm infants, better sleep/wake patterns were associated with male gender, younger postmenstrual and chronological age, lower body weight, and less illness severity. Preterm infants' total sleep time ( B = 41.828, p < .01) and percentage of sleep time ( B = 3.711, p < .01) were significantly longer at night than during the day. These findings can help clinicians recognize preterm infants' sleep problems, signaling the need to provide individualized support to maintain these infants' sleep quality during their early life.

Proteomic Identification of the Galectin-1-Involved Molecular Pathways in Urinary Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma.

Among various heterogeneous types of bladder tumors, urothelial carcinoma is the most prevalent lesion. Some of the urinary bladder urothelial carcinomas (UBUCs) develop local recurrence and may cause distal invasion. Galectin-1 de-regulation significantly affects cell transformation, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and cell invasiveness. In continuation of our previous investigation on the role of galectin-1 in UBUC tumorigenesis, in this study, proteomics strategies were implemented in order to find more galectin-1-associated signaling pathways. The results of this study showed that galectin-1 knockdown could induce 15 down-regulated proteins and two up-regulated proteins in T24 cells. These de-regulated proteins might participate in lipid/amino acid/energy metabolism, cytoskeleton, cell proliferation, cell-cell interaction, cell apoptosis, metastasis, and protein degradation. The aforementioned dys-regulated proteins were confirmed by western immunoblotting. Proteomics results were further translated to prognostic markers by analyses of biopsy samples. Results of cohort studies demonstrated that over-expressions of glutamine synthetase, alcohol dehydrogenase (NADP⁺), fatty acid binding protein 4, and toll interacting protein in clinical specimens were all significantly associated with galectin-1 up-regulation. Univariate analyses showed that de-regulations of glutamine synthetase and fatty acid binding protein 4 in clinical samples were respectively linked to disease-specific survival and metastasis-free survival.

Deciphering the Molecular Mechanism Underlying the Inhibitory Efficacy of Taiwanese Local Pomegranate Peels against Urinary Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit has been demonstrated to have the inhibitory activities to various tumors. In this study, we try to uncover the molecular mechanism underlying the inhibitory capability of Taiwanese local pomegranate fruit to urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma. The results collected from the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay indicated that the ethanol extract of pomegranate peel exhibited better inhibitory activity to human urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma T24 and J82 cells than that of pulp. Furthermore, the ethylacetate layer of peel ethanol extract was observed to have the best inhibitory activity against urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma cells. One of the eight fractions (PEPE2 fraction) collected from the ethylacetate layer with Diaion HP-20 column chromatography demonstrated the highest inhibitory activity in urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma cells. The results of the flow cytometry and apoptotic pathway studies suggested that the inhibitory activity of PEPE2 fraction were attributed to the UBUC cell apoptosis. To confirm the above results, our results of xenograft-induced bladder tumor in nude mice showed that the oral consumption of the ethylacetate layer (2, 5, 10 and 100 mg/kg) could decrease the volume and weight of T24 tumors and caused the apoptosis in the xenografted tumors, which was observed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling assay. This study provided the likelihood that the traditionally non-edible pomegranate peel waste is re-utilized to make an affordable and promising chemopreventive product to prevent UBUC incidence or recurrence.

Effects of a supportive care bundle on sleep variables of preterm infants during hospitalization.

Sleep is important for preterm infants' brain development, but they are frequently exposed to painful procedures in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) that disturb their sleep cycle and affect their growth. The purpose of this study was to examine the prolonged effects of a supportive care bundle (modulation of the infants' states, non-nutritive sucking, facilitated tucking, and oral sucrose feeding) on preterm infants' sleep variables (sleep efficiency, total sleep time, sleep latency, and frequency of wake bouts) during hospitalization. The team recruited 65 preterm infants (gestational age at birth 28-36 weeks, average birth weight 1,652 g) from a Level III NICU at a medical center in Taiwan. Infants were randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions to be administered while receiving intrusive procedures: (1) control condition (usual care, including routine procedures, positioning, and gentle touch); or (2) intervention condition in which the supportive care bundle was added to usual care. Sleep variables were measured using actigraphy for a baseline of three continuous days on the 6th to 8th days after birth and again for 3 continuous days when infants weighed ≧1,950 g. Two forms of generalized estimating equation analyses with control of significant covariates were used for data analysis. The supportive care bundle not only significantly increased sleep efficiency and total sleep time but also significantly decreased duration of sleep latency and frequency of wake bouts. These results provide evidence to support the incorporation of the supportive care bundle into NICU clinical practice during intrusive procedures.

Role of galectin-1 in urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma cell invasion through the JNK pathway.

Human galectin-1 is a member of the galectin family, proteins with conserved carbohydrate-recognition domains that bind galactoside. Galectin-1 is highly expressed in various tumors and participates in various oncogenic processes. However, detailed descriptions of the function of galectin-1 in urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma have not been reported. Our previous cohort investigation showed that galectin-1 is associated with tumor invasiveness and is a possible independent prognostic marker of urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma. The present study aimed to clarify the relevance of galectin-1 expression level to tumor progression and invasion. In order to decipher a mechanism for the contribution of galectin-1 to the malignant behavior of urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma, two bladder cancer cell lines (T24 and J82) were established with knockdown of galectin-1 expression by shRNA. Bladder cancer cells with LGALS1 gene silencing showed reduced cell proliferation, lower invasive capability, and lower clonogenicity. Extensive signaling pathway studies indicated that galectin-1 participated in bladder cancer cell invasion by mediating the activity of MMP9 through the Ras-Rac1-MEKK4-JNK-AP1 signaling pathway. Our functional analyses of galectin-1 in urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma provided novel insights into the critical role of galectin-1 in tumor progression and invasion. These results revealed that silencing the galectin-1-mediated MAPK signaling pathway presented a novel strategy for bladder cancer therapy.