Construction and Application of Autonomy Theory of Rehabilitation Program for Bronchiectasis Patients.

Objective: The autonomy theory holds that the autonomy of individuals in the rehabilitation process is crucial to the success of rehabilitation. To explore the use of autonomous rehabilitation programs in patients with bronchiectasis, This study was conducted through the construction of a stable family rehabilitation program for bronchiectasis patients and the application of patients self-determination theory. To further explore the value of autonomy theory in rehabilitation therapy. Method: The experimental group used self-determination theory as the guide for intervention on the basis of the control groups. The two groups of observation indexes included St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, FEV1 and FEV1 values, lung capacity, V25, V50, maximal ventilation, compliance questionnaire, anxiety self-assessment scale, and depression self-assessment scale. Results: (1) The lung capacity of the experimental group patients (3.01 ± 0.82) L was higher than that of the control group (2.86 ± 0.36) L, and the V25 value (2.63 ± 0.31) L/s, V50 value (4.31 ± 1.01) L/s, and maximum ventilation volume (71.63 ± 18.35) L/min were all higher than those of the control group, with P < .05; (2) After intervention, the SGRO score of patients in the experimental group (38.66 ± 8.67)score was lower than that of the control group (56.48 ± 9.86)score. The FEV1 score of patients in the experimental group (9.35 ± 2.36)L was higher than that of the control group (1.04 ± 0.29)L. After intervention, the FEV1 score of patients in the experimental group was% (56.83 ± 9.21)% higher than that of the control group (46.37 ± 7.67)%, with P < .05; (3) Comparison of compliance scores between two groups of patients before and after intervention: the experimental group had scores for timed medication (4.89 ± 0.64)score, moderate exercise (4.61 ± 1.04)score, and dietary regulation (4.72 ± 0.87)score after intervention, all of which were higher than those of the control group (P < .05); (4) The comparison of anxiety and depression between two groups of patients showed that the anxiety score (10.16 ± 3.03)score of the experimental group after intervention was lower than that of the control group (13.03 ± 3.67)score, and the depression score (9.35 ± 2.36)score of the experimental group after intervention was lower than that of the control group (12.34 ± 3.01)score, with P < .05. Conclusion: Using the theory of autonomy to construct and apply the rehabilitation program in the home stabilization stage of bronchiectasis patients can improve respiratory and lung function. At the same time, it has a certain degree of promoting effect on improving patients' treatment compliance, and can improve patients' emotional state and reduce the occurrence of anxiety and depression. The results of this study will provide a certain theoretical basis for the construction of the treatment and rehabilitation program of clinically related diseases. In the future clinical treatment, personalized treatment intervention can be carried out according to the autonomy of patients to improve the clinical prognosis.

Optimal timing for awake prone positioning in Covid-19 patients: Insights from an observational study from two centers.

BACKGROUND: The widespread application and interest in awake prone positioning stems from its ease and availability and its ability to enhance patients' oxygenation. Nevertheless, due to the absence of consensus over the regimen of awake prone positioning, the efficacy of awake prone positioning remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To explore the optimal regimen for awake prone positioning, including the timing of initiation, ideal daily duration, and strategies for improving patient comfort and encouraging adherence. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING(S): Two university-affiliated hospitals in Shanghai. PARTICIPANTS: Between December 2022 and February 2023, a total of 475 patients with COVID-19-related pneumonia who received awake prone positioning were observed. METHODS: The data were collected from the hospital's electronic medical record system. The differentiation efficiency of peripheral blood oxygen saturation [SpO2]:fractional oxygen concentration in inspired air [FiO2] ratio at first awake prone positioning for different outcomes was tested by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to analyze the relationship between time to occurrence of 28-day outcomes and collected variables. Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted with the percentage of 28-day outcomes according to the SpO2:FiO2 ratio at first awake prone positioning after controlling covariates through Cox regression. RESULTS: The best efficiency in predicting patient outcomes was achieved when the cutoff SpO2:FiO2 ratio at first awake prone positioning was 200. Patients with a reduced SpO2:FiO2 ratio (≤200) experienced more adverse respiratory outcomes (RR = 5.42, 95%CI [3.35, 8.76], p < 0·001) and higher mortality (RR = 16.64, 95%CI [5.53, 50.13], p < 0.001). Patients with a SpO2:FiO2 ratio of ≥200 at first awake prone positioning, longer duration between first awake prone positioning and admission, more awake prone positioning days, and better awake prone positioning completion were significantly protected from 28-day adverse respiratory outcomes and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Initiating awake prone positioning with a SpO2:FiO2 ratio exceeding 200, increasing the number of awake prone positioning days, prolonging the time between first awake prone positioning and admission, and achieving better completion of awake prone positioning were found to be significantly associated with reduced adverse respiratory outcomes and mortality. REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT05795751; URL: www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Depression in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Pulmonary Tuberculosis (DM-PTB): A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and Objectives: A high incidence of depression has been reported in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus (DM-PTB). However, the association between depression and DM-PTB is poorly understood and requires further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of depression and the associated factors in patients with DM-PTB. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among DM-PTB patients at the Tuberculosis Department of Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, China, enrolled between June 2021 and October 2021. The depression status, nutritional status, and the quality of life of the patients were evaluated using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS2002), and Quality of Life Instruments for Chronic Diseases-Pulmonary Tuberculosis (QLICD-PT), respectively. Results: A total number of 280 DM-PTB patients were screened, of whom 22 were excluded for missing data. Among the 258 DM-PTB patients subjected to analysis, 199 patients (77.13%) had PHQ-9 scores above 10. The patients with depression are more likely to have a lower monthly income, body mass index (BMI), and QLICD-PT than those without depression. The NRS2002 score and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) levels in the depression group were more likely to be higher than those in the control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that physical function [OR = 0.798, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.716-0.889, P < 0.001] was a protective factor against depression, whereas NRS2002 ≥ 3 (OR = 2.299, 95% CI, 1.095-4.825, P = 0.028), GPT (OR = 1.048, 95% CI, 1.018-1.079, P = 0.002), and social function (OR = 1.103, 95% CI, 1.033-1.179, P = 0.004) were risk factors of depression. Conclusion: Depression in DM-PTB patients may be associated with monthly income, BMI, QLICD-PT scores, NRS2002 scores, GPT, and GOT levels.

Effectiveness of precise and quantitative rapid pulmonary rehabilitation nursing program for elderly patients with lung cancer during the perioperative period: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Preoperative rehabilitation should improve the functional condition of patients. Improvements in metabolism, lung mechanics, cardiovascular function, and muscle-function can be achieved by pulmonary rehabilitation. Hence, we focused on elderly patients with lung cancer undergoing surgery, and assessed the effectiveness of a rapid and precise pulmonary rehabilitation nursing program during the perioperative period. Methods: This randomized controlled trial at the department of thoracic surgery; Shanghai pulmonary hospital, China during 2021 was conducted amongst 218 elderly patients with lung cancer treated by surgical operation into either a precision quantitative nursing model nursing group (experimental group) or a perioperative routine nursing group (control group). After individual planning of the pulmonary rehabilitation nursing outpatient clinic, nurses distributed breathing trainers, instructed the patients in breathing training, and supervised the patients after the operation. For our evaluation we considered pulmonary function tests, postoperative thoracic drainage tube indwelling times, postoperative hospital stays, postoperative complication rates, and postoperative quality of life results. Result: The experimental group showed better pulmonary function, length of hospital stay, and quality of life outcomes than the control group, but the differences were not statistically significant. However, we found a significantly higher postoperative complications rate in the control group (11.9%) than in the experimental group (3.7%; p=0.02). Conclusion: Strengthening pulmonary rehabilitation nursing interventions for elderly patients with lung cancer during the perioperative period can reduce their postoperative complications and promote their rapid recovery. Clinical Trial: Registration Number - ChiCTR2100042916.].

Association between depression and malnutrition in pulmonary tuberculosis patients: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Depression has been reported to be prevalent in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Moreover, several clinical symptoms of PTB and depression overlap, such as loss of appetite and malnutrition. However, the association between depression and malnutrition in TB patients has not been fully elucidated. AIM: To explore the association between depression and malnutrition in patients with PTB. METHODS: This hospital-based cross-sectional study included patients with PTB in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University from April 2019 to July 2019. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale was used to evaluate depre-ssion. The cut-off value was set at 10, and the nutritional state was determined by the body mass index (BMI). In addition, the Quality of Life Instruments for Chronic Diseases was employed to establish the quality of life (QOL). Univariable analysis and multivariable analysis (forward mode) were implemented to identify the independent factors associated with depression. RESULTS: A total of 328 PTB patients were screened for analysis. Eight were excluded for missing demographic data, four excluded for missing nutrition status, and sixteen for missing QOL data. Finally, 300 PTB patients were subjected to analysis. We found that depressive state was present in 225 PTB patients (75%). The ratio of malnutrition in the depressive PTB patients was 45.33%. Our results revealed significantly lower BMI, hemoglobin, and prealbumin in the depression group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the social status differed significantly (P < 0.05) between the groups. In addition, glutamic pyruvic transaminase and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase in the depression group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that BMI [odds ratio (OR) = 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.163-1.257, P < 0.001] and poor social function (OR = 0.95, 95%CI: 0.926-0.974, P = 0.038) were independently associated with depression. CONCLUSION: Malnutrition and poor social function are significantly associated with depressive symptoms in PTB patients. A prospective large-scale study is needed to confirm these findings.

Toll-Like Receptors Signaling Pathway of Quercetin Regulating Avian Beta-Defensin in the Ileum of Broilers.

The purpose of the experiment was to investigate the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway of quercetin regulating avian beta-defensin (AvBD) in the ileum of Arbor Acre (AA) broilers. Four hundred and eighty one-day-old Arbor Acre broilers with similar body weight, half male and female, were randomly allotted to four treatments; the control treatment and three dietary treatments were fed with the basal diets supplemented with 0, 0.02%, 0.04, and 0.06% quercetin, respectively. The results showed that dietary quercetin supplementation did not significantly influence growth performance (p > 0.05), but significantly decreased the mortality rate of broilers by 85.74%, 85.74, and 71.28%, respectively (p < 0.05, F = 9.06). Compared with control, dietary supplementation with 0.04 and 0.06% quercetin significantly upregulated mRNA expression of total AvBD (p < 0.05), and there were no significant differences in the mRNA expression of AvBD1, AvBD2, and AvBD14 in three quercetin supplementation groups in the ileum of AA broilers (p > 0.05). Dietary supplementation with 0.02 and 0.06% quercetin significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of total Toll-like receptors (p < 0.05). Dietary quercetin supplementation significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of TLR1A, TLR1B, and TLR2A (p < 0.05); however, there were no significant differences in the mRNA expression of TLR2B, TLR5, and TLR15 (p > 0.05). Dietary quercetin supplementation significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88) and TIR domain-containing adaptor protein/MyD88-adaptor-like (TIRAP/MAL) (p < 0.05), 0.02% quercetin significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of tank-binding kinase1 (TBK1), IκB kinase complex-α (IKKα), IKKß, IKKε, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), NF-κB inhibitor-alpha (IκBα), IκBα, IκBß, TNF-receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3), and interferons regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) (p < 0.05), 0.04% quercetin significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of IKKß, IKKε, NF-κB, IκBα, IκBß, TRAF3, and TRAF6 (p < 0.05), and 0.06% quercetin significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of TBK1 and IKKα (p < 0.05). 0.02% quercetin significantly decreased the relative abundance of Escherichia, Staphylococcus (p < 0.05), and Salmonella (p < 0.01), 0.04% quercetin significantly decreased the relative abundance of Staphylococcus (p < 0.05), Escherichia, and Salmonella (p < 0.01), and 0.06% quercetin significantly decreased the relative abundance of Salmonella (p < 0.05) and Staphylococcus (p < 0.01) in the ileum of AA broilers. These findings suggested that dietary quercetin supplementation regulated the mRNA expression of AvBD, TLR, and the TLR signaling pathways and NF-κB signalling pathways, thereby maintaining the microecological balance of the intestinal tract and decreasing the mortality of broilers, and the optimum addition amount of quercetin is 0.04% under the test conditions.

Questionnaire Survey-Based Quantitative Assessment of the Impact of Transitional Care on Self-Management of Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

METHODS: Clinical information of 78 COPD patients treated with TC (intervention group) or routine care (control group) in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital during March 2019 and August 2020 was gathered. Patients were followed up for 3 months after discharge. The intervention group (n = 39) was subjected to a TC plan for 3 months to help patients and their family caregivers for self-management of COPD. TC was provided by specially trained nurses, and patients were supported by standardized tools. Nursing measures in the control group (n = 79) included transitional support for 30 d after hospital discharge. In this way, patients were guaranteed to follow discharge plans and transit to outpatient nursing. Patient's anxiety and depression symptoms, sleep quality, survival quality, mobility, and life quality at admission and after 3 months of discharge were assessed by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Quality of Life Scale Abbreviated Version, Activity of Daily Life Scale, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, and COPD Assessment Test. RESULTS: Except for anxiety and depression, patient's sleep quality, survival quality, mobility, and life quality in two groups were significantly improved. Moreover, average change of total CAT score during 3 months of intervention was -5.44, while that in the control group was -1.74 (p = 0.011). Improvement of survival quality of patients in the intervention group (p = 0.001) was markedly greater than that in the control group (p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Altogether, TC based on quantification by questionnaire survey is beneficial to COPD patient's life quality and self-management.

Effect of Quercetin on Lipids Metabolism Through Modulating the Gut Microbial and AMPK/PPAR Signaling Pathway in Broilers.

The present study was conducted to investigate effects and mechanism of quercetin on lipids metabolism in broilers. 480 AA broilers were randomly allotted to four treatments (0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 g/kg quercetin) for 42 days. Compared with the control, 0.6 g/kg quercetin significantly decreased percentage of abdominal fat (P < 0.05); 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 g/kg quercetin significantly decreased relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Desulfovibrionaceae (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01; P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01); 0.2 g/kg quercetin significantly increased mRNA expression of PI3K, AMPKα1, AMPKα2, AMPKß2, LKB1 (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and significantly reduced mRNA expression of SREBP1 and PPARγ (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); 0.4 g/kg quercetin significantly increased mRNA expression of LKB1 and PKB (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and significantly reduced mRNA expression of ACC, HMGR, PPARγ, and SREBP1 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01); 0.6 g/kg quercetin significantly increased mRNA expression of AMPKγ, LKB1, CPT1, PPARα, PKB (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.05), and significantly reduced the mRNA expression of PI3K, ACC, HMGR, PPARγ, SREBP1 (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01); 0.2 g/kg quercetin significantly increased protein expression of AMPK (P < 0.01); 0.6 g/kg quercetin significantly increased protein expression of LKB1 (P < 0.01), 0.2 and 0.6 g/kg quercetin significantly increased protein expression of PI3K, PKB, CPT1 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01), and significantly reduced protein expression of ACC and SREBP1 (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01). In conclusion, quercetin improved lipid metabolism by modulating gut microbial and AMPK/PPAR signaling pathway in broilers.

Quercetin Improving Lipid Metabolism by Regulating Lipid Metabolism Pathway of Ileum Mucosa in Broilers.

This study is aimed at evaluating the regulatory mechanism of quercetin on lipid metabolism in the ileum of broilers to better understand these pathways decreasing abdominal fat. 480 chickens were randomly divided into 4 groups (control, 0.02% quercetin, 0.04% quercetin, and 0.06% quercetin). Breast muscle, thigh muscle, and abdominal fat pad were removed and weighed at 42 d of age. Serum was obtained by centrifuging blood samples from the jugular vein (10 ml) to determine high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG), leptin, and adiponectin using ELISA. About 5 g of the ileum was harvested and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen for RNA-seq. Then, the confirmation of RNA-seq results by the Real-Time Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) method was evaluated using Pearson's correlation. Compared with control, abdominal fat percentage was significantly decreased with increasing quercetin supplementation, and the best result was obtained at 0.06% dietary quercetin supplementation (P < 0.01). Breast muscle percentage was significantly decreased at 0.02% quercetin (P < 0.01), and thigh muscle percentage tended to increase (P = 0.078). Meanwhile, 0.04% and 0.06% quercetin significantly decreased TG (P < 0.01), TC (P < 0.01), and LDL content (P < 0.05) in serum. Serum leptin and adiponectin contents were significantly increased by 0.04% and 0.06% dietary quercetin supplementation, compared with the control (P < 0.01). Analyses of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database were used to identify differently expressed genes and lipid metabolism pathways. Quercetin decreased abdominal fat percentage through regulating fat digestion and absorption, glycerophospholipid metabolism, AMPK signaling pathway, fatty acid degradation, and cholesterol metabolism.

Cross-cultural adaptation, validity, and reliability of the Chinese version of the Nurses' Perceptions of Disaster Core Competencies Scale (NPDCC).

BACKGROUND: In recent years, disasters occurred frequently all over the world, and the role of nurses in public health emergencies and disaster emergencies was highlighted under the background of the covid19 epidemic. However, there was a lack of education and evaluation. Our study aims to cross-cultural adapt the Nurses' Perceptions of Disaster Core Competencies Scale (NPDCC) and evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version. METHODS: We translated the scale following the translation-integration-back translation-expert review procedure, adapted according to Chinese culture. We evaluated the reliability and validity of the scale, and a total sample of 911 nurse data from the Yangtze River Delta Regional Nursing Alliance Hospital was gathered. RESULTS: The Chinese version of NPDCC included 45 items, 5 factors (critical thinking skills, special diagnostic skills, general diagnostic skills, technical skills, and communication skills) were extracted from the analysis, which could explain the 68.289% of the total variance. The content validity index was 0.925. The Cronbach's α of the total NPDCC score was 0.978, and 0.884-0.945 for every factor. The split-half for the scale was 0.930, and every factor was 0.861-0.894. CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese version of NPDCC has excellent reliability and validity, and it is suitable to measure nurses' perceptions of disaster core competencies in China. The next step is to promote the application in a large scale.

Endoscopic Endonasal Transclival Approach to Spontaneous Hypertensive Brainstem Hemorrhage.

Surgical management of spontaneous hypertensive brainstem hemorrhage remains a challenge for neurosurgeons, especially when the hemorrhage is located the ventral brainstem. Recently endoscopic endonasal approach has been applied for resection of ventral brainstem lesions, though no published literature has explored its utility in treating brainstem hemorrhage. Here we reported a successful evacuation of severe hypertensive brainstem hemorrhage through endoscopic endonasal transclival approach. A 37 years-old male with a 5-year history of uncontrolled hypertension was brought to the Emergency Department with sudden vomiting, limb convulsions, and loss of consciousness for 2 hours. Computed tomography demonstrated a hemorrhage measuring 2.5 × 2.2 cm in the ventral midbrain and pontine. He presented with a Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score of 3 and disrupted vitals, and was intubated in the Emergency Department. Considering the ventral location of the hemorrhage and the need for emergent surgical decompression, an endoscopic endonasal approach was applied. Evacuation of the brainstem hemorrhage was achieved and his spontaneous respiration improved immediately after surgery. He was weaned off the ventilator and extubated on postoperative day 1, along with an improved GCS score of 5 (E2V1M2). At 1 month postoperatively his GCS score improved to 11 (E4V2M5) and he is currently under rehabilitation. Endoscopic endonasal approach is a feasible alternative for emergent surgery of ventrally located brainstem hemorrhage in carefully selected cases by providing direct visualization of the area and a good working angle, which facilitate evacuation of the hemorrhage with minimal damage to the brainstem.

A survival analysis of patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease discharged from the respiratory intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: To analyse the survival of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) after discharge from respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) and the adverse factors affecting patient's survival, so as to improve the follow-up work in the future. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted in the RICU. Patient demographic and clinical data were collected before discharge. RESULTS: All patients were followed for 2 years after discharge. Living status was collected. The LogRank test was used to compare the survival distributions at 24 months, and the Kaplan-Meier curve was plotted. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed. A total of 159 patients were admitted to the RICU; 19 patients died in the hospital. The post-hospitalization mortality was 18.24% (29/159), 27.04% (43/159), and 37.11% (59/159), respectively, at 6, 12 and 24 months. Data from a total of 140 discharged patients were collected and analysed. Old age, no education, low BMI, bedridden status, comorbidity with bronchiectasis, and comorbidity with cancer were risk factors affecting the survival rate of patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as analysed by the Log-Rank test. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that old age, no education, and low BMI were independent factors affecting patient survival. CONCLUSIONS: In China, there are many older patients who have no education, and it may be very important for patients with an acute exacerbation of COPD to have additional specialized health education after discharge.

The Effects and Mechanism of Quercetin Dietary Supplementation in Streptozotocin-Induced Hyperglycemic Arbor Acre Broilers.

Quercetin, a flavonoid found in fruits and vegetables, is widely distributed as a secondary metabolite in the plant kingdom. Oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM). The present study investigated the effects of quercetin dietary supplementation on streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced hyperglycemic Arbor Acre (AA) broilers by determining the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), biochemical indicators, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines content, antioxidant enzymes activities in tissues, and mRNA expression of genes relating to the insulin signaling pathway. Three hundred one-day-old healthy AA broilers were randomly assigned into 5 treatments; A, control healthy broilers; B, STZ-induced broilers; C, STZ-induced broiler dietary supplemented with 0.02% quercetin; D, STZ-induced broiler dietary supplemented with 0.04% quercetin; and E, STZ-induced broiler dietary supplemented with 0.06% quercetin. The results showed that quercetin supplementation relieved the side effects of STZ-induced oxidative stress by changing activities of antioxidant enzymes, decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels, activating expression of genes relating to PI3K/PKB signaling pathway that modulate glucose metabolism and reduce oxidative damage, thereby decreasing FBG and increasing FINS levels. These findings suggest that quercetin exhibits a protective effect in STZ-induced hyperglycemic AA broilers via decreasing oxidative stress.

Association Between Nicotine-dependent Gene Polymorphism and Smoking Cessation in Patients With Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Patients with lung cancer continue to smoke owing to complex factors. Failure to quit smoking (defined as nicotine dependence) is significantly associated with genetic status. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between polymorphisms in nicotine dependence genes and smoking status after the diagnosis of lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 240 patients with lung cancer were included from July 2017 to March 2018. According to the actual smoking condition after lung cancer diagnosis, eligible patients were divided into 3 groups: the never-smoking group, the failure to quit smoking group, and the successful smoking cessation group. Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence scores were used to evaluate the smoking status of each group. Three nicotine-dependent genes with 6 loci were detected. RESULTS: Among the 240 patients, 86 were never-smokers, 51 failed to quit smoking, and 104 successfully quit smoking. The initial age of smoking in the failure to quit smoking group was significantly younger than those in the successful smoking cessation group (P = .001). There was a significant difference in the GG and AG and AA genotype distributions of CHRNA3 (rs578776) among the 3 groups (P = .003). There was also a significant difference in the distribution of CHRNA4 (rs2229959) genotypes among the 3 groups (P = .003). However, there was no significant difference in the genotype distribution of CHRNA5 (rs588765) among the 3 groups (P = .277). CONCLUSIONS: Gene polymorphisms of CHRNA3 (rs578776) and CHRNA4 (rs1044396 and rs2229959) were associated with the success of smoking cessation after the diagnosis of lung cancer, which should be considered in the management of smoking cessation after patients are diagnosed with lung cancer.

Effectiveness of intraoperative administration of intermittent pneumatic compression in preventing deep vein thrombosis in lung cancer patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in lung cancer patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy. METHODS: This study included 495 lung cancer patients undergoing VATS from March 2018 to November 2018. Patients were randomly assigned to an IPC group or a control group using sealed envelopes containing a slip indicating the allocation. IPC calf sleeves were applied to both legs during the surgery. All patients were subjected to D-dimer and echo color-Doppler detection pre- and postoperatively. The incidences of DVT were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: While D-dimer levels failed to show any significant difference between the two groups, the incidence of DVT showed significant difference with respect to the ultrasonographic features of the thrombi. Intraoperative administration of IPC significantly reduced the risk of DVT compared with no mechanical prophylaxis (P<0.0001). No complications related to IPC occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative administration of IPC was effective in preventing postoperative DVT in lung cancer patients undergoing VATS.

Inhibition of microRNA-34a mediates protection of thymosin beta 4 in endothelial progenitor cells against advanced glycation endproducts by targeting B-cell lymphoma 2.

The aim of our work was to test whether thymosin beta 4 protected endothelial progenitor cells against apoptosis induced by advanced glycation endproducts and investigate the underlying mechanism. Treatment with thymosin beta 4 or transfection with microRNA-34a inhibitor enhanced cell viability, reduced apoptosis, abated oxidative stress, and attenuated mitochondrial dysfunction in endothelial progenitor cells exposed to advanced glycation endproducts. Incubation with advanced glycation endproducts led to increased levels of microRNA-34a, which was attenuated by treatment with thymosin beta 4. Transfection with microRNA-34a reversed the beneficial effect of thymosin beta 4 against injuries induced by advanced glycation endproducts. The microRNA-34a could directly bind to the 3'UTRs of the mRNA of B-cell lymphoma 2, and thymosin beta 4 treatment upregulated B-cell lymphoma 2 expression in endothelial progenitor cells exposed to advanced glycation endproducts. More importantly, knockdown of B-cell lymphoma 2 abolished the protection of thymosin beta 4 and microRNA-34a inhibitor against advanced glycation endproducts. In conclusion, inhibition of microRNA-34a mediated protection of thymosin beta 4 in endothelial progenitor cells against advanced glycation endproducts by targeting B-cell lymphoma 2, which was helpful for understanding the therapeutic potential of thymosin beta 4 for diabetic patients.

Risk factors for nicotine dependence in Chinese patients with lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Smoking is a poor prognostic factor for lung cancer. Nicotine dependence remains the major cause of failure of smoking cessation. We investigated the risk factors for nicotine dependence in patients with lung cancer. METHODS: Eligible patients were identified from November 2014 to February 2015. Age, marital status, educational level, annual household income, occupation, histology of lung cancer, tumor stage, smoking status, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level, drive gene mutations, sleep quality, and patient personality were assessed. Physical nicotine dependence was assessed by the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). RESULTS: In total, 202 smokers were included in this study. Univariate analysis showed that marital status and pain were significantly correlated with nicotine dependence. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that age at the initiation of smoking, attempts to quit, NSE level, and sleep quality were significantly correlated with FTND scores. CONCLUSIONS: Pain, more attempts to quit, and poorer sleep quality were significantly associated with nicotine dependence. These risk factors could help to prevent smoking in Chinese patients with lung cancer.

Enhancing nitrogen removal efficiency in a dyestuff wastewater treatment plant with the IFFAS process: the pilot-scale and full-scale studies.

The activated sludge (AS) process is widely applied in dyestuff wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs); however, the nitrogen removal efficiency is relatively low and the effluent does not meet the indirect discharge standards before being discharged into the industrial park's WWTP. Hence it is necessary to upgrade the WWTP with more advanced technologies. Moving bed biofilm processes with suspended carriers in an aerobic tank are promising methods due to enhanced nitrification and denitrification. Herein, a pilot-scale integrated free-floating biofilm and activated sludge (IFFAS) process was employed to investigate the feasibility of enhancing nitrogen removal efficiency at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs). The results showed that the effluent chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonium nitrate (NH4+-N) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations of the IFFAS process were significantly lower than those of the AS process, and could meet the indirect discharge standards. PCR-DGGE and FISH results indicated that more nitrifiers and denitrifiers co-existed in the IFFAS system, promoting simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. Based on the pilot results, the IFFAS process was used to upgrade the full-scale AS process, and the effluent COD, NH4+-N and TN of the IFFAS process were 91-291 mg/L, 10.6-28.7 mg/L and 18.9-48.6 mg/L, stably meeting the indirect discharge standards and demonstrating the advantages of IFFAS in dyestuff wastewater treatment.

Start-up and bacterial community compositions of partial nitrification in moving bed biofilm reactor.

Partial nitrification (PN) has been considered as one of the promising processes for pretreatment of ammonium-rich wastewater. In this study, a kind of novel carriers with enhanced hydrophilicity and electrophilicity was implemented in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) to start up PN process. Results indicated that biofilm formation rate was higher on modified carriers. In comparison with the reactor filled with traditional carriers (start-up period of 21 days), it took only 14 days to start up PN successfully with ammonia removal efficiency and nitrite accumulation rate of 90 and 91%, respectively, in the reactor filled with modified carriers. Evident changes of spatial distributions and community structures had been detected during the start-up. Free-floating cells existed in planktonic sludge, while these microorganisms trended to form flocs in the biofilm. High-throughput pyrosequencing results indicated that Nitrosomonas was the predominant ammonia-oxidizing bacterium (AOB) in the PN system, while Comamonas might also play a vital role for nitrogen oxidation. Additionally, some other bacteria such as Ferruginibacter, Ottowia, Saprospiraceae, and Rhizobacter were selected to establish stable footholds. This study would be potentially significant for better understanding the microbial features and developing efficient strategies accordingly for MBBR-based PN operation.

Leojaponic acids A and B, two new homologous terpenoids, isolated from Leonurus japonicus.

The present study aimed at isolation and purification of the bioactive terpenoids from the herb of Leonurus japonicus by chromatographic separations such as silica gel, sephadex LH-20 and C18 reversed phase silica gel, as well as preparative HPLC. As a result, leojaponic acids A (1, C17H24O4) and B (2, C18H26O4), two homologous terpenoids, together with (-)-loliolide (3), 1-(3-ethylphenyl) ethane-1, 2-diol (4) and dibutyl phthalate (5), were isolated from the EtOH extract of L. japonicus. All the chemical structures of the isolates were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR analyses. Compounds 1 and 2 were new terpenoids, and Compounds 3 and 4 were isolated and identified for the first time from this plant. In addition, the α-glucosidase and tyrosinase inhibitory activity of the new compounds were evaluated.