A Polysaccharide from Ficus carica L. Exerts Immunomodulatory Activity in Both In Vitro and In Vivo Experimental Models.

Polysaccharides from Ficus carica L. (FCP) exert multiple biological activities. As a biological macromolecule, the available knowledge about the specific structures and mechanisms of the biological activity of purified 'Brunswick' fig polysaccharides is currently limited. In the present study, chemical purification and characteristics were identified via chemical and instrumental analysis, and then the impact of FCP on immunomodulation activity in vitro and in vivo was examined. Structural characteristics showed that the molecular weight of the FCP sample was determined to be 127.5 kDa; the primary monosaccharides present in the FCP sample were galacturonic acid (GalA), arabinose (Ara), galactose (Gal), rhamnose (Rha), glucose (Glc), and xylose (Xyl) at a ratio of 0.321:0.287:0.269:0.091:0.013:0.011. Based on the investigation of in vitro immunomodulatory activity, FCP was found to stimulate the production of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6, and increased the pinocytic activity of macrophages. Further analysis revealed that FCP activated macrophages by interacting with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Moreover, the in vivo test results indicate that FCP showed a significant increase in serum pro-inflammatory factors in immunosuppressed mice. Overall, this study suggests that FCP has the potential to be utilized as a novel immunomodulator in the pharmaceutical and functional food industries.

Enhanced mass transfer of pulsed vacuum pressure pickling and changes in quality of sour bamboo shoots.

Sour bamboo shoot is a traditional Chinese fermented vegetable food. The traditional pickling method of sour bamboo shoots has the disadvantages of being time-consuming, inhomogeneous, and difficult to control. Pulsed vacuum pressure pickling (PVPP) technology uses pulsed vacuum pressure to enhance the pickling efficiency significantly. To demonstrate the effects of salt content and PVPP technical parameters on the fermentation of bamboo shoots, the sample salinity, pH value, color, crunchiness and chewiness, nitrite content, and lactic acid bacteria content during the pickling process were investigated. The salt content inside the bamboo shoots gradually increased to the equilibrium point during the pickling process. The pickling efficiency of bamboo shoots under PVPP technology increased by 34.1% compared to the traditional control groups. Meanwhile, the uniform salt distribution under PVPP technology also obtained better performance in comparison with the traditional groups. The pH value declined slowly from 5.96 to 3.70 with the extension of pickling time and sour flavor accumulated progressively. No significant differences were found in the color values (L *, a *, and b *) and the crunchiness of the bamboo shoot under different salt solution concentrations, vacuum pressure, and pulsation frequency ratio conditions. Colony-forming unit of lactic acid bacteria (CFU of LAB) decreased, to begin with, and then increased until the 6th day, followed by a declining trend in volatility. The nitrate content of bamboo shoots samples under PVPP treatments did not exceed the safety standard (<20 mg/kg) during the whole fermentation process, which proves the safety of PVPP technology. In conclusion, PVPP technology can safely replace the traditional method with better quality performance. The optimal PVPP processing conditions (vacuum pressure 60 kPa, 10 min vacuum pressure time vs. 4 min atmospheric pressure time, salt solution concentration 6%) have been recommended for pickling bamboo shoots with high product quality.

The Public's Preferences for Psychological Interventions During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Discrete Choice Experiment.

Aims: To explore the public's preference for psychological interventions through a discrete choice experiment and to provide references for formulating psychological intervention policies and establishing psychological intervention procedures in response to public health emergencies. Methods: This study is a discrete choice experiment. Attributes and levels were identified through literature reviews, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and expert consultations. Experimental design principles were applied to generate choice sets containing different attribute levels and develop a survey instrument. Convenience sampling was conducted nationwide, and 1,045 participants were investigated. A mixed logit model was used to evaluate the public's preferences. Results: All attributes in our study were found to have a significant influence on the public's preferences for psychological interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The public's preferences for providers and duration were influenced by the public's levels of education and classifications. Furthermore, the most ideal scenario was found to be a one-on-one psychological intervention provided by family and friends through social network platforms, for which the frequency is twice per week, and the duration of each intervention is 0.5-1 h. Conclusions: The public's preferences for psychological interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic are affected by the method, form, frequency, provider, and duration of interventions. Our findings provide references for the formulation of psychological intervention policies and the establishment of psychological intervention procedures in response to public health emergencies.

Efficacy of combined naikan and morita therapies on psychological distress and posttraumatic growth in Chinese patients with advanced cancer: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Advanced cancer (AC) patients experience serious physical and psychological problems with the disease progression. When approaching the end of life, these patients have to cope with not only the bodily illness, but also the spiritual crisis. Conventional psychological treatments reduce distress to a certain extent, but for patients with AC, especially when they face progressive illness and are approaching death, their psychological problems are complex, and no simple solutions are in sight. Therefore, we designed this study to evaluate the efficacy of the combined Naikan therapy (NT) and Morita therapy (MT) on psychological distress and posttraumatic growth in patients with AC. METHOD: One hundred thirty patients newly diagnosed with AC were allocated randomly into treatment (n = 65) and control (n = 65) groups. Patients in the treatment group received combined NT and MT for 7 consecutive weeks, while the control group received normal medical treatments without NT and MT. Patients were assessed before and after the therapies. The primary outcome measures include distress thermometer (DT) and posttraumatic growth, and the secondary outcome measure contains the list of distress problems. RESULTS: At the post-treatment stage, the treatment group displayed a decreased score of psychological distress as compared to that in the control group, which accompanied by a higher post-traumatic growth total score and subscale scores in relationship to others, new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual changes, and appreciation of life. A significant decrease in fear, sleeping difficulty/insomnia, nervousness/anxiety, and loss of appetite was also observed in the treatment group. CONCLUSION: The results proved that the combined Naikan and Morita therapies decreased the psychological distress and improved the posttraumatic growth of the patients with AC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR1900026691.

Anti-inflammatory active components of the roots of Datura metel.

One new phenolic glycoside, methyl 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate-4-O-[2-O-ß-D-apisoyl-6-O-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)]-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1), together with 10 known compounds (2-11), were isolated from the roots of Datura metel. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic data. Furthermore, the in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of compounds 1-11 were evaluated.[Formula: see text].

Nurses' knowledge of the management of drug-induced peripherally inserted central catheter obstruction: A descriptive phenomenological study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this research is to describe and understand nurses' knowledge of drug-induced peripherally inserted central catheter obstruction management in developing countries. This research aims to identify the reasons why nurses lack knowledge of the management of drug-induced peripherally inserted central catheter obstruction and do not use the drug-induced peripherally inserted central catheter obstruction management techniques recommended by the Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. METHODS: The descriptive phenomenological method was used to investigate nurses' knowledge of the management of drug-induced peripherally inserted central catheter obstruction. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 17 nurses from three hospitals in northeast China were used in this qualitative study. Data collection and analysis were conducted simultaneously during the research. Nvivo software 12.0 was used to organize and code the data, and Colaizzi's seven phases of data analysis were used to form themes. FINDINGS: The findings showed that there is inconsistency in nurses' knowledge of drug-induced peripherally inserted central catheter obstruction and its management, and we suggest reasons for this phenomenon. CONCLUSION: This research has shown that inconsistent practice in the management of drug-induced peripherally inserted central catheter obstruction is a more complex issue than originally thought. These inconsistencies are related to time pressure on nurses, nurses' knowledge of peripherally inserted central catheter obstruction, and limitations of the clinical work model.

Efficacy of management for obstruction caused by precipitated medication or lipids in central venous access devices: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

At present, central venous access devices (CVADs) are widely used in clinical practice. The reasons for CVAD obstruction caused by precipitated medication or lipids are increasingly complex. However, there is no clear treatment program for CVAD obstruction caused by precipitated medication or lipids. The target of this study was to analyze data regarding obstruction caused by precipitated medication or lipids in CVADs and to calculate the efficacy of different treatment methods. A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted in alignment with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. The PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and China National Knowledge Internet databases were searched for original research published before 2018. There were 1356 publications initially screened, with one additional study identified through snowballing. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. The reasons for obstruction, except for clot formation, primarily included the following: mechanical complications; lipid deposition; mineral deposition; or drug precipitation. Meta-analysis showed that sodium hydroxide resulted in the highest recanalization rate in lipid deposition, followed by ethanol, and the difference was significant. The efficacy analysis revealed that hydrochloric acid and l-cysteine have similar effects on mineral deposition and drug precipitation. According to this review, the most effective methodology was shown to be the intravenous perfusion of sodium hydroxide in several treatments when the obstruction is caused by lipid deposition. In contrast, mineral deposition and drug deposition are best treated with l-cysteine to recover the patency of central venous access devices.

Phenolic Profiles, Antioxidant Capacities, and Inhibitory Effects on Digestive Enzymes of Different Kiwifruits.

In order to obtain high-quality kiwifruits with health-promoting characteristics, physicochemical properties, phenolic profiles, antioxidant capacities, and inhibitory effects on digestive enzymes (pancreatic lipase and α-glucosidase), of fourteen different types of kiwifruit obtained from China were systematically investigated and compared. Noticeable variations in the fruits' physicochemical properties and phenolic profiles were observed among them. The total phenolic content of Actinidia chinensis cv. Hongshi, A. chinensis cv. Jinshi, and A. chinensis cv. Jinlong were 16.52 ± 0.26 mg GAE/g DW (dry weight), 13.38 ± 0.20 mg GAE/g DW, and 11.02 ± 0.05 mg GAE/g DW, respectively, which were much higher than those of the other tested kiwifruits. According to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, phenolic compounds, including procyanidin B1, procyanidin B2, (-)-epicatechin, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, and quercetin-3-rhamnoside, were found to be the major compounds in kiwifruits, while procyanidin B1, procyanidin B2, and chlorogenic acid were the most abundant phenolic compounds. Furthermore, all the tested kiwifruits exerted remarkable antioxidant capacities and inhibitory effects on pancreatic lipase and α-glucosidase. Indeed, A. chinensis cv. Hongshi, Actinidia chinensis cv. Jinshi, and Actinidia chinensis cv. Jinlong exhibited much better antioxidant capacities and inhibitory effects on digestive enzymes than those of the other tested kiwifruits. Particularly, A. polygama showed the highest inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase. Therefore, Actinidia chinensis cv. Hongshi, Actinidia chinensis cv. Jinshi, and Actinidia chinensis cv. Jinlong, as well as A. polygama could be important dietary sources of natural antioxidants and natural inhibitors against pancreatic lipase and α-glucosidase, which is helpful for meeting the growing demand for high-quality kiwifruits with health-promoting characteristics in China.

Associations of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-12 levels in peripheral blood with lung function, cellular immune function, and quality of life in children with moderate-to-severe asthma.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric asthma has gained increasing concerns with poorly understood pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to explore the associations of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-6, and IL-12 levels in peripheral blood (PB) with lung function, cellular immune function, and children's quality of life (QOL) with moderate-to-severe asthma. METHODS: A total of 1158 children with moderate-to-severe asthma (the experimental group) and 1075 healthy children (the control group) were recruited for our study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect IL-4, IL-6, and IL-12 levels. T lymphocytes were detected by alkaline phosphatase antialkaline phosphatase, and erythrocyte immune was measured by red blood cell C 3b receptor (RBC-C3bR) rosette-forming test. The forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were detected, after which FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) was calculated before and after treatment. PedsQL3.0 was used to measure the effect of asthma on QOL of children, and the correlation between IL-4, IL-6, and IL-12 levels and the lung function and QOL was measured. Logistic regression analysis was applied to detect related factors of moderate-to-severe asthma of children. RESULTS: After treatment, the decreased IL-4 and IL-6 levels and increased IL-12 level were revealed in the experimental group. The cellular immune function's disorder was significantly decreased, and an elevated CD3, CD4, CD8, and declined CD4/CD8 level was performed in T lymphocytes. RBC-C3bR was increased, and red blood cell immune complex (RBC-IC) was reduced in erythrocyte immune in comparison with those before treatment. Lung function parameters all increased. After treatment, the symptoms of asthma in children reduced with scores of increased QOL. IL-4 was positively related to RBC-IC, but negatively associated with the QOL score. IL-6 showed negative connection with CD4/CD8, RBC-C3bR, FEV1/FVC, and QOL score, and had positive connection with PEF. In addition, IL-12 was negatively correlated with PEF. The levels of IL-4, RBC-C3bR, FEV1/FVC, and PEF were independent risk factors for the prognosis of treatment for children with moderate-to-severe asthma. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that IL-4, IL-6, and IL-12 levels in PB were associated with lung function, cellular immune function, and QOL in children with moderate-to-severe asthma.

[Curve analysis and geometric measurement of root canal curvatures].

PURPOSE: To study the anatomical features of curved root canals. METHODS: According to Nagy's classification,the root canals were divided into 4 types:type I (straight), type C (continuously curved), type J (apically curved) and type S (multicurved). Each type had a sample selected from extracted permanent teeth. Digital radiographs were taken at buccolingual and mesiodistal directions with a K-file inserted into the root canal. The images were treated by Photoshop7.0 and CorelTRACE10 softwares, after that a CAD/CAM software UG NX V1.0 was applied to extract the 2D curves of the root canal axis from the images,then the 3D curves of the root canal axis were built up accordingly. The curvature of the curves was analysed and the geometric parameters were measured by UG. RESULTS: The curvature values of type I root canal were very low; the curvature of type C root canal reached a peak on the middle part,it decreased slowly towards the two ends; type J root canal had a curvature peak near the root apex, and the middle 1/3 and neck 1/3 parts of the root canal were "curvature flat zones". Type S root canal had a curvature inflection,and beside it were 2 curvature peaks at opposite directions. The geometric parameter values of the same root canal's 2D and 3D axis were different. CONCLUSION: Each point on the root canal axis had a curvature value and a vector of tangent, different root canal forms had different rules of curvature distribution, just 1 or 2 parameters couldn't describe a curved root canal completely.