Thermally Responsive Selenide-containing Materials Based on Transalkylation of Selenonium Salts.

Covalent adaptable networks (CANs) possess unique properties as a result of their internal dynamic bonds, such as self-healing and reprocessing abilities. In this study, we report a thermally responsive C-Se dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) that relies on the transalkylation exchange between selenonium salts and selenides, which undergo a fast transalkylation reaction in the absence of any catalyst. Additionally, we demonstrate the presence of a dissociative mechanism in the absence of selenide groups. After incorporation of this DCC into selenide-containing polymer materials, it was observed that the cross-linked networks display varying dynamic exchange rates when using different alkylation reagents, suggesting that the reprocessing capacity of selenide-containing materials can be regulated. Also, by incorporating selenonium salts into polymer materials, we observed that the materials exhibited good healing ability at elevated temperatures as well as excellent solvent resistance at ambient temperature. This novel dynamic covalent chemistry thus provides a straightforward method for the healing and reprocessing of selenide-containing materials.

Formins: the key regulators of plant cell morphology and development / 生物工程学报

Formins are widely distributed in eukaryotes such as fungi, plants and animals. They play crucial roles in regulating the polymerization of actin, coordinating the synergistic interactions between actin and microtubules, and determining cell growth and morphology. Unlike formins from fungi and animals, plant formins have been evolved into two plant-specific types. Generally, type Ⅱ formins are believed to regulate the polarized growth of cells, and type Ⅰ formins may regulate the cell expansion and division processes. Recent studies on the function of plant formins suggest it is inappropriate to classify the function of formins purely based on their structures. This review summarizes the domain organization of formins and their corresponding functions, as well as the underpinning mechanisms. Furthermore, the unsolved or unexplored issues along with future perspectives on plant formins are proposed and discussed.

YAP1 knockdown in cancer-associated fibroblasts inhibits migration and invasion of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells / 肿瘤

Objective: To investigate the effects of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP 1) gene knockdown in cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) on the migration and invasion of breast cancer MDAMB- 231 cells. Methods: The expression of YAP1 in breast primary CAF and paired normal fibroblast (NF) in mRNA microarray was analyzed by bioinformatics methods. To verify the authenticity and accuracy of the microarray results, the expressions of YAP1 mRNA and protein in primary and immortalized NF and CAF were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blotting. A co-cultured system including breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and the conditioned medium of NF or CAF was used, and the effect of fibroblasts on the invasion ability of breast cancer cells was detected by Transwell chamber assay. CAF cells were transfected with the plasmids carrying the specific shRNA targeting YAP 1 gene, then the expressions of YAP1 mRNA and protein in CAF were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The effects of YAP 1 gene interference in CAF on the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells cultured with CAF conditioned medium were detected by scratch wound healing and Transwell chamber assay, respectively. CAF cells were treated with Hippo pathway inhibitor XMU-MP-1, then the expressions of total YAP1 protein and phosphorylated YAP1 protein in CAF were detected by Western blotting, as well as the invasion ability of MDA-MB-231 cells co-cultured with the CAF conditioned medium was measured by Transwell chamber assay. The expressions of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF -β 1) and interleukin 6 (IL 6), two target genes of YAP1 and the cytokines associated with cell migration and invasion, in CAF with YAP 1 gene interference were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. The effect of YAP1-knocked CAF on the extracellular matrix remodeling was tested by Collagen gel contraction assay. Results: Compared with primary NF, the expression of YAP 1 gene was significantly upregulated in primary CAF of breast cancer according mRNA microarray (P < 0.05). The higher expressions of YAP1 mRNA and protein in primary and immortalized CAF were confirmed by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (P < 0.05) and Western blotting (P < 0.01). The invasion ability of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells was significantly promoted in the coculture system with the conditioned medium of CAF as compared with NF (P < 0.01). The CAF cell line transfected with YAP1 shRNA was successfully constructed, and the expressions of YAP1 mRNA and protein were successfully stably knocked down in CAF (both P < 0.01). Compared with the YAP1-unknocked CAF control group, the migration (P < 0.05) and invasion (P < 0.01) abilities of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells were significantly weakened after culture with the conditioned medium of YAP1-knocked CAF. The phosphorylation level of YAP1 protein was decreased in CAF treated with Hippo pathway inhibitor XMU-MP-1 (P < 0.01), while the invasion ability of MDA-MB-231 cells was significantly enhanced after coculture with XMU-MP-1-treated CAF (P < 0.05). The expression levels of TGF-β1 and IL6 mRNAs were down-regulated in YAP1-knocked CAF (both P < 0.05), and the collagen gel shrinking ability of extracellular matrix was significantly decreased in YAP1-knocked CAF group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The stable knockdown of YAP1 expression in CAF can inhibit the migration and invasion of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells through down-regulating the expressions of TGF-β1 and IL6 and remodeling the extracellular matrix.

Covalent Fluorination Strategies for the Surface Modification of Polydienes.

Nonreactive additives are widely applied to enhance polymer properties but can leach out of the material over time. In this work, two essentially different fluorinated additives bearing a triazolinedione moiety are synthesized and grafted on several polydiene backbones (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-butadiene, and styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS) copolymers), either by dip-coating or by reaction in solution. The resulting polymers are analyzed by contact angle goniometry, size exclusion chromatography, and NMR, infrared, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Independent of the modification procedure, the fluorophilic perfluoroalkyl additive is found at the material surface, thereby yielding a more hydrophobic surface. For SIS thermoplastic elastomers, for example, contact angles up to 125° can be obtained.

Research on correlation between family cohesion and adaptability and quality of life in patients with enterostomy / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To investigate the correlation between family cohesion and adaptability and quality of life in patients with enterostomy. Methods Using Chinese version of Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale (FACESⅡ-CV) and Chinese version of Stoma-Quality of Life (STOMA-QOL-C) to investigate the status of family cohesion and adaptability, family type and their impact on quality of life of 110 patients with enterostomy. Results Scores of family cohesion and adaptability averaged 59.15 ± 11.94, 47.32 ± 9.40,were significantly lower than 63.90 ± 8.00 and 50.90 ± 6.20 in the norm,and the difference was statistically significant (t=-4.171,-3.990, P<0.01).The family cohesion was positively correlated with the score of quality of life, social interaction and psychological burden(r=0.274, 0.284, 0.263, P<0.05), and the family adaptability was positively correlated with the score of quality of life,social interaction and psychological burden(r=0.316, 0.338, 0.228, P<0.05 or 0.01). The balance type family was 30 cases;scores of quality of life averaged 45.10±7.26, the intermediate type family was 50 cases;scores of quality of life averaged 43.48±9.98, the extreme type family was 28 cases;scores of quality of life averaged 43.37 ± 16.68, and difference between the three was no statistically significant(F=0.442, P=0.665). Conclusions In the nursing process of patients with enterostomy, health care workers should pay attention to improve family cohesion and adaptability, as to achieve the purpose of improving the quality of life of the patients.

Detoxification mechanisms of honey bees (Apis mellifera) resulting in tolerance of dietary nicotine.

Insecticides are thought to be among the major factors contributing to current declines in bee populations. However, detoxification mechanisms in healthy, unstressed honey bees are poorly characterised. Alkaloids are naturally encountered in pollen and nectar, and we used nicotine as a model compound to identify the mechanisms involved in detoxification processes in honey bees. Nicotine and neonicotinoids have similar modes of action in insects. Our metabolomic and proteomic analyses show active detoxification of nicotine in bees, associated with increased energetic investment and also antioxidant and heat shock responses. The increased energetic investment is significant in view of the interactions of pesticides with diseases such as Nosema spp which cause energetic stress and possible malnutrition. Understanding how healthy honey bees process dietary toxins under unstressed conditions will help clarify how pesticides, alone or in synergy with other stress factors, lead to declines in bee vitality.

Determination the limitation of aristolochic acid A in Jiuwei-Qianghuo pill / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To establish a method for the determination of aristolochic acid A in Jiuwei-Qianghuo pill. Method The HPLC system consisted of the Phenomenex Luna C18(4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5μm)column, the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 0.05% H3PO4, gradient elution flow rate was 1.0 ml/min, the column temperature was 35℃, the UV detector was set at 250 nm.Results The linear response range was 0.014-0.280μg/ml(r=0.999 9). The detection limit and quantitation limit of aristolochic acid A in Jiuwei-Qianghuo pill was 1.5 and 4.5 ng/ml. The average recovery of aristolochic acid A was 96.3%. Conclusions The method was high sensitivity, accurate, repeatable and high secificity. It can be used as an inspection method for safe use of Jiuwei-Qianghuo pill.

Efficacy of short-term educational intervention for parents of preschool children with anxiety / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the efficacy of short-term educational intervention for parents of preschool children with anxiety.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-nine children with Spence Preschool Anxiety Scale (SPAS) scores of ≥ 48 were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The children's parents in the intervention group received a collective curriculum on children's anxiety management six times, while the control group was only followed up. All children were evaluated for anxiety by the SPAS 3 and 6 months later, and then the results were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The test was completed in 21 cases of the intervention group and 22 cases of the control group. At month 3, the intervention group had a significantly lower percentage of children with SPAS scores of ≥ 48 than the control group (62% vs 91%; P<0.05), and this percentage was also significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group at month 6 (52% vs 82%; P<0.05). At month 3, the intervention group had a significantly reduced mean SPAS score, which was significantly lower than that of the control group (69 ± 12 vs 81 ± 12; P<0.01). At month 6, both groups showed significant decreases in SPAS score, but still the SPAS score was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (65 ± 13 vs 78 ± 13; P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Early short-term education for parents can relieve their preschool children's anxiety effectively, but the long-term effect needs to be evaluated by follow-up.</p>

2D-DIGE proteomic analysis of changes in estrogen/progesterone-induced rat breast hyperplasia upon treatment with the Mongolian remedy RuXian-I.

RuXian-I has traditionally been used as a remedy for breast hyperplasia in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. As a first step toward the investigation of biomarkers associated with RuXian-I treatment, a proteome-wide analysis of rat breast tissue was conducted. First, rat breast hyperplasia was induced by injection of estradiol and progesterone. After treatment with RuXian-I, there is a marked decrease in the hyperplasia, as can be shown by decreases in the nipple diameter and the pathological changes in breast. Subsequently, we used an approach that integrates size-based 2D-DIGE, MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS, and bioinformatics to analyze data from the control group, the model group and the RuXian-I treatment group. Using this approach, seventeen affected proteins were identified. Among these, 15 (including annexin A1, annexin A2, superoxide dismutase [Mn], peroxiredoxin-1, translationally-controlled tumor protein and a B-crystallin) were significantly up-regulated in the model group and down-regulated upon treatment with RuXian-I, and two (Tpil protein and myosin-4) have the opposite change trend. The expression of annexin A1 was confirmed using immunohistochemistry. The expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was confirmed biochemically. These results indicated that RuXian-I treats rat breast hyperplasia through regulation of cell cycle, immune system, metabolic, signal transduction, etc. The differential expressions of these proteins (annexin A1, superoxide dismutase [Mn], alpha B-crystallins and translationally controlled tumor protein, among others) were associated with occurrence and metastasis of breast cancer. These findings might provide not only far-reaching valuable insights into the mechanism of RuXian-I action, but also leads for prognosis and diagnosis of breast hyperplasia and breast cancer.

The Emotional Well-Being of the Nurse within the Multi-Skill Setting

The emotional well-being of nurses working in a multi-skill setting may be negatively influenced by their challenging work environment. A qualitative; explorative; descriptive and contextual study was conducted to investigate this phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experience; as well as perceptions of coping mechanisms; of nurses working in the multi-skill setting; and to formulate recommendations to promote their emotional well-being. The population consisted of nurses working in a multi-skill setting (a Level-2 hospital) and included professional nurses; enrolled nurses and nurse assistants. An all-inclusive sample was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three professional nurses; six enrolled nurses and one nurse assistant. These interviews were analysed according to the method described by Creswell (2003:192). The findings indicated that nurses have positive as well as negative experiences of the multi-skill setup. They cope by means of prioritising tasks; faith; self-motivation and mutual support. They also made suggestions for the promotion of their emotional well-being; on personal as well as managerial levels. Recommendations for further research; nurse education and practice were formulated. Recommendations for practice include 'on-the-spot' in-service training; appropriate task allocation; clearly defined scope of practice; time for rest and debriefing; strengthened relationships with management; promotion of strengths and creating a support system

[National information campaigns on depression. A biopsychosocial anthropology?]. / Les campagnes nationales d'information sur la dépression. Une anthropologie biopsychosociale?

INTRODUCTION: Information and prevention campaigns are privileged tools for public health institutions in their risk reduction policies concerning heath disorders and their consequences. Mental health in general, and depression in particular, have been the focus of several public campaigns in different countries for 20 years. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this paper is to analyse depression campaign messages, to highlight their underlying logics and to show some of their effects, in particular in relation to contextual conflicts between professionals that possibly emerge because of these campaigns. MATERIAL: Previous depression campaign materials were analysed, and the recent French campaign launched in November 2007 was the subject of specific attention. RESULTS: Common messages of the campaigns are centred on the prevention of emergence, recurrence, worsening and individual, social and economic consequences of depressive disorders. Depression is always presented as "a disease"; a position which differs from international classifications describing depression as "a disorder", a much less affirmative statement. This choice, which has important "performance" values is based upon several factors including the difficulty to "popularise" psychological technology, a consensus resulting from a political struggle between professionals, a reaction to the current norms of autonomy implying a new set of rights and responsibilities from and towards the people who are "sick", and the importance given to the reduction of stigmatisation from which the "mentally ill" suffer. From all of these aspects appears a logic of "dementalisation" corresponding to a "deficit" model, in which depression is presented as something external to the individual, and where treatment is supposed to "fix" the deficit. DISCUSSION: The French campaign shares many of those fundamental characteristics: prevalence, seriousness of the disease's consequences, low level of services use, preference for biological monoaminergic theories, and environmental risk factors to explain the disease (an aetiology which is more bioenvironmental than really biopsychosocial), presentation of the main chemotherapeutics and psychological treatments, referring first to a general practitioner, importance of reducing stigmatisation, and presentation of depression as a disease. However, the French campaign differs from other campaigns in its use of an organising concept for the symptoms (slowing down) and a more precise description of the frontiers between normal and pathological functioning. Furthermore, beyond the usual biological and environmental elements, greater importance is given to the psychological mechanisms and to phenomena that are not only in the "real world", such as symbolic losses. Nevertheless, it does not explicitly recommend any psychotherapy "brand". CONCLUSION: This "specificity" reflects the compromise found between the different French professional positions and the opposing paradigms that govern them. The campaign led by the French Institut national de prévention et d'éducation à la Santé (Inpes) on depression is a first step of prevention and heath promotion of mental health in France. The analyses presented in this paper highlight the present orientations in this domain, its underlying tensions and the importance of respecting and preserving the multiple aspects of this domain, which are many different ways to explore the complex object that is mental health. This paper also replaces those campaigns in the complexity of their logic and their context, in an attempt to provide elements for a dispassionate reflection for all of the actors concerned by these questions.

'Click' functionalization of cryogels conveniently verified and quantified using high-resolution MAS NMR spectroscopy.

Chemical modification reactions of alkyne containing polyHEMA-based macroporous network structures (cryogels) by Cu(I) catalyzed azide-alkyne 'click' cycloaddition reactions and their monitoring and quantification with high-resolution magic angle spinning (hr-MAS) NMR spectroscopy are reported. Complete conversion is obtained when benzylazide is reacted with the grafted alkyne function, but only partial conversion is observed when using azide-modified poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-N(3) ). Subsequent addition of benzylazide consumes all remaining alkyne groups. All chemical modifications are easily monitored at each stage using hr-MAS NMR spectroscopy. The alkyne functionality and the resulting triazole ring provide well resolved (1) H resonances to monitor and quantify the progress of such 'click' reactions in general.