Effects of cluster nursing interventions on the prevention of pressure ulcers in intensive care units patients: A meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis was conducted to comprehensively evaluate the impact of cluster nursing interventions on the prevention of pressure ulcers (PUs) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Computer searches were performed in databases including Embase, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Wanfang and China National Knowledge Infrastructure for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) implementing cluster nursing interventions for PUs prevention in ICU patients, with the search period covering the database inception to November 2023. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data and conducted quality assessments. Stata 17.0 software was employed for data analysis. Overall, 17 RCTs involving 1463 ICU patients were included. The analysis showed that compared with conventional nursing, cluster nursing interventions significantly reduced the incidence of PUs (odds ratio: 0.24, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.17-0.34, p < 0.001) and also significantly improved the levels of anxiety (standardized mean difference [SMD]: -1.39, 95% CI: -1.57 to 1.22, p < 0.001) and depression (SMD: -1.64, 95% CI: -2.02 to 1.26, p < 0.001) in ICU patients. This study indicates that the application of cluster nursing interventions in ICU patients can effectively reduce the incidence of PUs, as well as improve patients' anxiety and depression levels, thereby enhancing their quality of life, which is worth clinical promotion and application.

Near-infrared imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma and its medicinal treatment with a γ-glutamyl transpeptidase-monitoring fluorescence probe.

Herein, the Near-infrared imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its medicinal treatment was achieved with a γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)-monitoring fluorescence probe KYZ-GGT which consisted of the typical recognition group γ-glutamyl and the structurally modified signal reporting group hemicyanine-thioxanthene. Compared with the recently reported probes, KYZ-GGT suggested practical and steady capability for monitoring the GGT level in the cellular, xenograft, induced as well as medicinal treatment HCC models. It realized the mitochondrial targeting intracellular imaging to reflect the GGT dynamics in the induction or medicinal treatment of HCC. In the xenograft and induced model mice with multiple factors, KYZ-GGT showed stable performance for visualizing the HCC status. In the medicinal treatment of the long-period-induced HCC model mice verified by the serum indexes and histopathological analysis, KYZ-GGT successfully imaged the medicinal treatment process of HCC with two marketed drugs (Sorafenib and Lenvatinib) respectively, with an applicative penetration depth. The information here was meaningful for investigating effective medicinal strategies for overcoming HCC.

Imaging Investigation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progress via Monitoring γ-Glutamyltranspeptidase Level with a Near-Infrared Fluorescence/Photoacoustic Bimodal Probe.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the main principal causes of cancer death, and the late definite diagnosis limits therapeutic approaches in time. The early diagnosis of HCC is essential, and the previous investigations on the biomarkers inferred that the γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) level could indicate the HCC process. Herein, a near-infrared fluorescence/photoacoustic (NIRF/PA) bimodal probe, CySO3-GGT, was developed for monitoring the GGT level and thus to image the HCC process. After the in-solution tests, the bimodal response was convinced. The various HCC processes were imaged by CySO3-GGT at the cellular level. Then, the CCl4-induced HCC (both induction and treatment) and the subcutaneous and orthotopic xenograft mice models were selected. All throughout the tests, CySO3-GGT achieved NIRF and PA bimodal imaging of the HCC process. In particular, CySO3-GGT could effectively realize 3D imaging of the HCC nodule by visualizing the boundary between the tumor and the normal tissue. The information here might offer significant guidance for the dynamic monitoring of HCC in the near future.

Promoting Effects on Proliferation and Chondrogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Four "Kidney-Tonifying" Traditional Chinese Herbs.

Traditional Chinese medicine can promote the proliferation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). We chose four "Kidney-tonifying" Chinese herbal medicines, Radix Astragali, Salvia, Herba Epimedii, and Saussurea Involucrata, to evaluate whether they had positive effects on the proliferation of BMSCs and TGF-ß1-induced chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs. The four Chinese herbal medicines were intragastrically administered to Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively, to prepare drug-containing serums of corresponding Chinese herbs. BMSCs were isolated, cultured, and exposed to culture solution containing 1%, 5%, 10%, and 15% (v/v) Radix Astragali-, Salvia-, Herba Epimedii-, and Saussurea Involucrata-containing serum, respectively. TGF-ß1-induced BMSCs were addressed in the same manner. Collagen type II protein was assessed by immunofluorescence methods. To assess whether the drug-containing serums had positive effects on the proliferation of BMSCs and TGF-ß1-induced BMSCs, MTT method was assessed. The proliferation of BMSCs was significantly enhanced when exposed to culture solutions containing 1% and 5% Radix Astragali-, 1% and 5% Salvia-, 5% Herba Epimedii-, and 1%, 5%, and 10% Saussurea Involucrata-containing serum. The proliferation of TGF-ß1-induced BMSCs was significantly enhanced when exposed to 1%, 5%, and 15% Radix Astragali-, 10% and 15% Salvia-, 5%, and 15% Herba Epimedii-, and 1%, 5%, and 10% Saussurea Involucrata-containing serum.

High levels of vitamin D in relation to reduced risk of schizophrenia with elevated C-reactive protein.

There is growing evidence on the novel role of vitamin D in reducing inflammation. This study aimed to examine the hypothesis that vitamin D is inversely associated with C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with schizophrenia, and high levels of vitamin D may be linked to reduced risk of schizophrenia with elevated CRP. Ninety-three patients with schizophrenia and 93 family-matched controls were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Plasma concentrations of CRP and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] were measured using commercial kits. Information about demographic characteristics and clinic data were obtained by interviews or medical records. Mean levels of CRP and 25(OH)D were 43.3% higher and 26.7% lower for patients compared to controls, respectively. 25(OH)D were inversely associated with CRP in the patients, but not in the controls. The proportions of patients significantly increased with increasing quartiles of CRP, while significantly decreased with increasing quartiles of 25(OH)D. Among individuals with high CRP, participants with high 25(OH)D have significantly lower proportion (adjusted OR =0.217, 95% CI 0.063, 0.751) of schizophrenia compared to those with low 25(OH)D. The evidence suggested that high levels of vitamin D may be linked to reduced risk of schizophrenia with elevated CRP.

[Case-control study on therapeutic effects of different fixation methods with three Kirschners wires for the treatment of humeral supracondylar fractures].

OBJECTIVE: To compare therapeutic effects of three fixation methods with three Kirschner wires,and to find the best fixation method. METHODS: From July 2008 to May 2009, 60 patients with humeral supracondylar fractures were treated. Among patients in Group A, 11 patients were male and 9 patients were female, ranging from 2 to 13 years old,with an average of (5.4 +/- 0.5)years;all the patients in Group A were fresh closed fractures without nerve and blood vessel injuries, 13 patients were type II and 7 patients were type III according to Gartland classification; and all the patients in Group A were treated by three Kirschner wires fixation with the third Kirschner different wire fixed through radial edge of coronoid fossa. Among patients in Group B, 13 patients were male and 7 patients were female,ranging from 2 to 11 years old, with an average of (6.1 +/- 0.4) years; all the patients in Group B were fresh closed fractures without blood vessel injuries, 11 patients were type II and 9 patients were type III according to Gartland classification, 2 patients had ulnar nerve injuries before treatment; and all the patients in Group B were treated by three Kirschner wires fixation with the third Kirschner different wire fixed through ulnar edge of coronoid fossa. Among patients in Group C, 8 patients were male and 12 patients were female, ranging from 3 to 14 years old, with an average of (7.4 +/- 0.6) years; all the patients in Group C were closed fresh fractures without blood vessel injuries, 7 patients were type II and 13 patients were type III according to Gartland classification, 2 patients had radial nerve injuries before treatment; and all the patients in Group C were treated by three Kirschner wires fixation with the third Kirschner different wire fixed through middle of coronoid fossa. After 1 year of treatment,the Carrying and Baumann angles were measured on the X-ray of all patients in the three groups, and the motion range of elbow joint was observed. The Flynn evaluation criteria were used to compare therapeutic effects among the three groups. RESULTS: All the patients were followed up. The function loss of elbow joint were (14.04 +/- 3.25) degrees in Group A, (13.14 +/- 2.34) degrees in Group B, and (9.25 +/- 2.56) degrees in Group C. Changes of Carrying angle were (7.64 +/- 1.78) degrees in Group A; (7.38 +/- 1.68) degrees in Group B, and (5.27 +/- 1.13) degrees in Group C. Changes of Baumann angle were (28.55 +/- 3.23) degrees in Group A, (27.55 +/- 2.23) degrees in Group B, (21.45 +/- 1.73) degrees in Group C. According to Flynn criteria, there were 11 patients got excellent result, 4 good and 5 poor in Group A; in Group B, 12 patients got excellent result, 3 good and 5 poor; in Group C, 11 patients got excellent result, 6 good and 3 poor. The therapeutic effects of Group C was better than those of Group A and Group B. CONCLUSION: There are different effects among three kinds of operative approaches for the humerus supracondylar fractures. The fixation method with one Kirschner wire through middle part of coronoid fossa is better than the other two fixation methods.