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Background: Non-pharmacological interventions have a myriad of available intervention options and contain multiple components. Whether specific components of non-pharmacological interventions or combinations are superior to others remains unclear. The main aim of this study is to compare the effects of different combinations of non-pharmacological interventions and their specific components on health-related outcomes in adults with subjective cognitive decline., Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and China's two largest databases, CNKI and Wanfang, were searched from inception to 22nd, January 2023. Randomized controlled trials using non-pharmacological interventions and reporting health outcomes in adults with subjective cognitive decline were included. Two independent reviewers screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Component network meta-analysis was conducted employing an additive component model for network meta-analysis. This study followed the PRISMA reporting guideline and the PRISMA checklist is presented in Additional file 2., Results: A total of 39 trials with 2959 patients were included (range of mean ages, 58.79-77.41 years). Resistance exercise might be the optimal intervention for reducing memory complaints in adults with subjective cognitive decline; the surface under the cumulative ranking p score was 0.888, followed by balance exercise (p = 0.859), aerobic exercise (p = 0.832), and cognitive interventions (p = 0.618). Music therapy, cognitive training, transcranial direct current stimulation, mindfulness therapy, and balance exercises might be the most effective intervention components for improving global cognitive function (iSMD, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.36 to 1.29), language (iSMD, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.24 to 0.38), ability to perform activities of daily living (iSMD, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.21 to 0.89), physical health (iSMD, 3.29; 95% CI, 2.57 to 4.00), and anxiety relief (iSMD, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.26 to 1.16), respectively., Conclusions: The form of physical activity performed appears to be more beneficial than cognitive interventions in reducing subjective memory complaints for adults with subjective cognitive decline, and this difference was reflected in resistance, aerobic, and balance exercises. Randomized clinical trials with high-quality and large-scale are warranted to validate the findings., Trial Registration: PROSPERO registry number. CRD42022355363., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: A significant relationship between gastric cancer (GC) and depression has been found in the last 20 years. However, there is no comprehensive information that helps researchers find popular and potential research directions on GC and depression., Aim: To determine the research status and hotspots by bibliometric analysis of relevant publications on the relationship between GC and depression., Methods: We used the Web of Science Core Collection to search and collate the literature on GC and depression from 2000 to 2022 on 31 May, 2023. Then, visualization analysis was performed using VOSviewer software (version 1.6.19) and the Bibliometrix package in R software., Results: We retrieved 153 pertinent publications from 2000 to 2022. The annual publication count showed an overall upward trend. China had the most prominent publications and significant contributions to this field ( n = 64, 41.83%). Before 2020, most studies focused on "the effect of GC on the development and progression of depression in patients." The latest research trends indicate that "the effect of depression on the occurrence and development of GC and its mechanism" will receive more attention in the future., Conclusion: The study of "the effect of depression on the occurrence and development of GC and its mechanism" has emerged as a novel research theme over the past two years, which may become a research hotspot in this field. This study provides new insights into the hotpots and frontiers of the relationship between GC and depression, potentially guiding researchers toward hot research topics in the future., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: Dr. Zhang has nothing to disclose., (©The Author(s) 2023. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To observe the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) treatment on efficacy of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) in cirrhotic rats. Methods: A rat model of liver cirrhosis was established via intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) for 10 weeks. Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n = 10): control group served as group A, and 0.5ml of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was transfused into the tail vein; ADSCs single-dose transplantation group served as group B, and 1×10(6) ADSCs were transplanted into the tail vein; bFGF-treated ADSCs treatment group served as group C, and 1×10(6) bFGF-treated ADSCs were transplanted through tail vein. Liver function, pathological and cytokine changes, and the in vivo survival transformation condition of the transplanted cells were measured at one week after transplantation. F test and an independent sample t test were used. Results: bFGF treatment had significantly promoted the proliferation, differentiation and overexpression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in ADSCs [ADSCs single: (2 137.16 ± 261.52) pg/ml vs. ADSCs (bFGF): (4 776.23 ± 532.44) pg/ml, P < 0.05]. The bFGF-treated ADSCs treatment group had statistically significant differences in promoting the recovery of liver function [alanine aminotransferase (ALT): ADSCs single (190.8 ± 34.98) vs. ADSCs (bFGF): (117.8 ± 35.81) pg/ml; aspartate aminotransferase (AST): ADSCs single (295.2 ± 33.71) U/L vs. ADSCs (bFGF): (183.8 ± 41.29) U/L, P ​​< 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in serum albumin levels between the control group, ADSCs single group, and ADSCs (bFGF) group. Compared with the control group, the serum albumin level of ADSCs (bFGF) group was increased significantly ( P < 0.05), and the difference between the control group and the ADSCs single transplantation group in improving liver regeneration and reducing liver damage was statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Masson trichrome staining showed that the percentage of the liver fibrosis area in the bFGF-treated ADSCs treatment group was 6.78% ± 0.56%, which was significantly higher than that of the control and ADSCs single dose transplantation group (7.96% ± 0.64%) ( P < 0.05). Western blot analysis showed that the expression of HGF protein in the bFGF-treated ADSCs treatment group was significantly up-regulated, while the expression of α-smooth muscle actin was significantly down-regulated, and the difference was significant in the ADSCs single transplantation group. A double fluorescent staining method showed that the numbers of stem cells implanted in the liver tissue of the bFGF-treated ADSCs treatment group were higher than that of the ADSCs single transplantation group. In-vitro cell experiments confirmed that bFGF had significantly promoted the overexpression of HGF in ADSCs. Conclusion: bFGF-treated ADSCs transplantation can significantly improve liver function and fibrosis as compared with ADSCs single-dose transplantation in cirrhotic rats.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and the prognostic risk factors of adult patients with Epestein-Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (EBV-HLH) so as to enhance the understanding of EBV-HLH and diagnosis and treatment level., Methods: The clinical manifestation and survival data of 59 adult patients with EBV-HLH admitted in our hospital from January 2013 to August 2018 were analyzed retrospectively., Results: The most common clinical manifestations of 59 patients were high fever (100%), liver dysfunction (91.5%), however the skin rashes (1.7%), and neurologic abnormality (3.4%) were rare. 96.6% of the patients showed the elevation of serum ferritin and LDH level, and hypoproteinemia and sCD25≥2 400 U/ml were found in 93.2% and 92.3% of the patients, respectively. The median survival time of 59 patients was 2.5±0.7 months; overall survival rate of 1, 3, 6 and 12-month was 69.5%±6.0%, 44.7%±6.6%, 23.9%±5.8%, 19.7%±5.5%, respectively. Univariate survival analysis showed that the patients with EBV-DNA copies≥5×10 5 /ml (P＜0.05), LDH level≥600 U/L (P＜0.05) and Plt count＜20×10 9 /L (P＜0.05) had poor prognosis, and there was statistically difference in the overall survival rate (P＜0.01) between HLH-94/2004 group and the group treated without etoposide (not HLH-94/2004). Multivariate analysis revealed that LDH level≥600 U/L (P＜0.05), Plt count＜20×10 9 /L (P＜0.05) and treatment protocol (not HLH-94/2004) (P＜0.01) were independent prognostic risk factors in 59 patients with EBV-HLH., Conclusions: EBV-HLH assocites with severe clinical features, high mortality rate and poor prognosis of patients. EBV-DNA copies≥5×10 5 /ml (P＜0.05), LDH level≥600 U/L (P＜0.05) and Plt count＜20×10 9 /L (P＜0.05) are the poor prognostic factors, and the treatment with HLH-94/2004 protocol can effectively improve the survival of EBV-HLH patients, should be applied as early as possible.

This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the best available evidence concerning the effects of psychoeducational interventions (PEIs) on the psychosocial and coping outcomes for caregivers of pediatric oncology patients. A literature search was performed using 11 databases, from inception to June 2017. Keywords such as pediatric, caregiver, parents, cancer, and intervention were used. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Studies with full text available online in English and those conducted of caregivers of children diagnosed with any form of cancer were included. Eleven RCTs were included in the analysis. Our meta-analysis revealed that PEIs have small to large effects on three outcomes, including post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs), mood, and problem-solving skills. However, the outcomes from PEI were not superior to the usual standard of care for anxiety, depression, and social support. Our meta-analysis provided moderate evidence that PEI enhances psychological and coping outcomes. Because coping affects both physical and psychological health, health care professionals could consider including coping as a core component in PEI delivered to caregivers of children with cancer.

Conventional optofluidic lens usually has only one interface, which means that the zoom range is small, and the ability to correct aberrations is poor. In this paper, we propose a hybrid driving variable-focus optofluidic lens. It has one water-oil interface shifted by an applied voltage and one tunable Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) lens deformed by pumping liquid in or out of the cavity. The proposed lens combines the advantages of electrowetting lens and mechanical lens. Therefore, it can provide a large focal length tuning range with good image quality. The shortest positive and negative focal length are ∼6.02 mm and ∼-11.15 mm, respectively. The maximum resolution of our liquid lens can be reached 18 lp/mm. We also designed and fabricated a zoom system using the hybrid driving variable-focus optofluidic lens. In the experiment, the zoom range of the system is 14 mm∼30 mm and the zoom ratio is ∼2.14× without any mechanical moving parts. Its applications for zoom telescope system and zoom microscope and so on are foreseeable.

Objective: To explore the clinical feature of liver injury in patients with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS)., Methods: The clinical data of 92 patients with HPS in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively, and the characteristics of hepatic lesion and its relationship with prognosis in HPS patients were explored., Result: 92 cases of HPS showed different degrees of liver dysfunction from mild to moderate. The clinical parameters of liver dysfunction included the increased level of LDH (89.13%), AST (64.13%), TBIL (59.78%) and decreased level of ALB (90.22%). Moreover, 76.09% and 67.39% of the patients had the prolonging of APTT and PT respectively. The ALB level of patients in rheumatoid immune group were higher than that in infection, maglinancy and unexplained groups, all with statistically and significant difference (P＜0.05, P＜0.05 and P＜0.01), the ALB level of patients in infection group were statistically and significantly higher than that in unexplained group (P＜0.01). The Fbg level of patients in infection group were lower than that in maglinancy group, unexplained group and rheumatoid immune group, all the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05, P＜0.01 and P＜0.05). Child-Pugh grading was further carried out in HPS patients with liver disfunction. Survival time of the patients grade A was significantly higher than that of grade B and C of patients. Univariate analysis showed that the patients with LDH≥2000 U/L, ALB＜30 g/L and PT≥15.1 s had a survival time inferior to control patients (P＜0.05, P＜0.01 and P＜0.01, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that ALB＜30 g/L was an independent adverse prognostic factor for these patients (P＜0.01)., Conclusion: Patients with HPS generally have impaired liver function mainly manifested with elevated LDH and AST levels, and declined ALB level, which may correlate with the disease cause and prognosis. Patients with LDH≥2000 U/L, ALB＜30 g/L and PT≥15.1 s have a poorer prognosis and should be treated as soon as possible.

A series of E-ring lactone-opened camptothecin (CPT) derivatives bearing with terminal aza-heterocyclic groups were synthesized, and their antitumor activity was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Hydroxyl-amide analogues with morpholin-4-yl displayed excellent antitumor activity in vitro and efficient inhibition on tumor xenograph model in nude mice. Ester-amide compounds acted less active in vitro cytotoxicity and lower inhibition activity in vivo. Substitutions at 7- and 10- positions favored the antitumor activity.

Currently, many strains of influenza A virus have developed resistance against anti-influenza drugs, and it is essential to find new chemicals to combat this virus. The influenza polymerase with three proteins, PA, PB1 and PB2, is a crucial component of the viral ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex. Here, we report the identification of a hit compound 221 by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) direct binding screening on the C-terminal of PA (PAC). Compound 221 can subdue influenza RNP activities and attenuate influenza virus replication. Its analogs were subsequently investigated and twelve of them could attenuate RNP activities. One of the analogs, compound 312, impeded influenza A virus replication in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells with IC 50 of 27.0 ± 16.8 μM. In vitro interaction assays showed that compound 312 bound directly to PAC with Kd of about 40 μM. Overall, the identification of novel PAC-targeting compounds provides new ground for drug design against influenza virus in the future.

Objective: To investigate the effect of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ADSC) transplantation in the treatment of liver fibrosis rats and possible mechanism. Methods: Subcutaneous adipose tissue in the inguinal region of rats was collected to isolate ADSCs. The rats with liver fibrosis induced by intraperitoneally injected carbon tetrachloride were divided into cell transplantation group and phosphate buffer saline (PBS) injection group, and the rats which were fed normally were enrolled as negative control group. The rats in the cell transplantation group were given tail vein injection of ADSCs, and those in the PBS injection group were given injection of 0.5 ml PBS. At 7 days after transplantation, blood samples were collected from the inferior vena cava to evaluate liver function; liver tissue was collected to measure the protein expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA); Masson trichrome staining was used to evaluate intrahepatic collagen deposition. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were collected from the rats with liver fibrosis, and indirect co-culture of HSCs and ADSCs was performed in vitro to analyze the influence of ADSCs on the proliferation and apoptosis of HSCs. The independent samples t-test was used for comparison between groups, and an analysis of variance was used for comparison of means between multiple samples. Results: ADSCs were found in liver tissue in the transplantation group, and compared with the PBS injection group, the transplantation group had significant alleviation in hepatocyte necrosis, vacuolization, and area of fibrosis and significant reductions in the serum levels of aminotransferases, while there was no significant difference in the level of albumin between the two groups. Compared with the PBS injection group, the transplantation group had significant upregulation in the protein expression of HGF and significant downregulation in the protein expression of α-SMA (both P < 0.05). In vitro co-culture for 72 hours showed that ADSCs inhibited the proliferation of HSCs, and there was a significant difference between the co-culture group and the control group with HSCs cultured alone. Caspase-3 immunostaining showed that after co-culture for 72 hours, there was a significant difference in the apoptosis rate of HSCs between the co-culture group and the control group with HSCs cultured alone (23.42% ± 3.02% vs 14.82% ± 3.93%). Conclusion: ADSC transplantation can upregulate the expression of HGF in the liver, promote the apoptosis of HSCs, and thus alleviate liver fibrosis.

Sodium-ion batteries have attracted considerable attention in recent years. In order to promote the practical application of sodium-ion batteries, the electrochemical performances, such as specific capacity, reversibility, and rate capability of the anode materials, should be further improved. In this work, a Fe 2 O 3 /C composite with a well-ordered mesoporous structure is prepared via a facile co-impregnation method by using mesoporous silica SBA-15 as a hard template. When used as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries, the well-ordered mesoporous structure ensures fast mass transport kinetics. The presence of nano-sized Fe 2 O 3 particles confined within the carbon walls significantly enhances the specific capacity of the composite. The carbon walls in the composite act not only as an active material contributing to the specific capacity, but also as a conductive matrix improving the cycling stability of Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles. As a result, the well-ordered mesoporous Fe 2 O 3 /C composite exhibits high specific capacity, excellent cycleability, and high rate capability. It is proposed that this simple co-impregnation method is applicable for the preparation of well-ordered mesoporous transition oxide/carbon composite electrode materials for high performance sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries.

Background: Recent studies reported that miRNAs play important roles in the carcinogenesis and progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Therefore, further studies are warranted to better elucidate the function and mechanism of miRNAs in NPC., Methods: Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the miR-99a expression in NPC cell lines and tissue samples. Wound healing, transwell migration and invasion, and lung metastatic colonization assays were performed to determine NPC cell migratory, invasive and metastatic abilities of NPC cells. Luciferase reporter assays, quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to validate the target of miR-99a., Results: We found that miR-99a was significantly downregulated in NPC cell lines and tissue samples. Ectopic overexpression of miR-99a significantly inhibited NPC cell migration and invasion in vitro, and suppressed lung macroscopic and microscopic metastatic colonization in vivo. Conversely, silencing of miR-99a significantly promoted the migratory and invasive abilities of NPC cells. Furthermore, HOXA1 was validated as a direct target of miR-99a, and ectopic expression of HOXA1 could rescue the suppressive effect of miR-99a overexpression on NPC cell migration and invasion., Conclusion: Together, these results indicated that miR-99a could inhibit NPC invasion and metastasis by targeting HOXA1 , thus providing a novel potential target for miRNA-based treatment for NPC patients in the future., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Background & Aims: Clinical studies suggest that splenectomy improves liver function in cirrhotic patients, but the influence of splenectomy on stem cell transplantation is poorly understood. This study investigated the effect of splenectomy on stem cell infusion and elucidated its mechanism., Methods: Rat adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells were infused into cirrhosis rats with or without splenectomy, followed by the assessment of the in vivo distribution of stem cells and pathological changes. Stromal cell-derived factor-1 and hepatocyte growth factor expression were also investigated in splenectomized cirrhosis patients and rats., Results: Splenectomy, prior to cell infusion, improved liver function and suppressed fibrosis progression more efficiently than cell infusion alone in the experimental cirrhosis model. Stromal cell-derived factor-1 and hepatocyte growth factor levels after splenectomy were increased in patients and rats. These upregulated cytokines significantly facilitated stem cell motility, migration and proliferation in vitro. C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 neutralization weakened the promotion of cell migration by these cytokines. The infused cells integrated into liver fibrosis septa and participated in regeneration more efficiently in splenectomized rats. Direct coculture with stem cells led to inhibition of hepatic stellate cell proliferation. In addition, hepatocyte growth factor induced hepatic stellate cell apoptosis via the c-jun N-terminal kinase-p53 pathway., Conclusions: Splenectomy prior to cell infusion enhanced the therapeutic effect of stem cells on cirrhosis, which involved upregulation of stromal cell-derived factor-1 and hepatocyte growth factor after splenectomy., (© 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Eczema is a common skin condition that impairs children's daily life activities and quality of life. Previous research shows that gut microbiome composition plays an important role in the development of eczema. The present review summarizes evidence on environmental factors related to altered gut microbiota in children with eczema. We searched Medline, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane database of Systematic Reviews through October 2015. The search strategy focused on articles published in peer-reviewed, English-language journals with no publication year limit. Only original studies and review articles that reported environmental factors on gut microbiome specific to eczema were included in this review. We selected six studies (total 1990 participants) for full review and identified that the composition of gut microbiota specific to eczema could be influenced by the following environmental factors: length of gestation, mode of delivery, type of feeding, method of treatment, number of older siblings, and other lifestyle factors. There has been inconsistent empirical evidence as to the modulatory effects of gut microbiota on immunological functions in children with eczema. Further research on the environmental-host-microbial interaction is needed to develop a strong base of knowledge for the development and implementation of prevention strategies and policies for eczema.

Background and Aim: Recent studies show that adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells have potential clinical applications. However, the mechanism has not been fully elucidated yet. Here, we investigated the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor-treated adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells infusion on a liver fibrosis rat model and elucidated the underlying mechanism., Methods: Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells were infused into carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis rats through caudal vein. Liver functions and pathological changes were assessed. A co-culture model was used to clarify the potential mechanism., Results: Basic fibroblast growth factor treatment markedly improved the proliferation, differentiation, and hepatocyte growth factor expression ability of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Although adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells infusion alone slightly ameliorated liver functions and suppressed fibrosis progression, basic fibroblast growth factor-treatment significantly enhanced the therapeutic effect in association with elevated hepatocyte growth factor expression. Moreover, double immunofluorescence staining confirmed that the infused cells located in fibrosis area. Furthermore, co-culture with adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell led to induction of hepatic stellate cell apoptosis and enhanced hepatocyte proliferation. However, these effects were significantly weakened by knockdown of hepatocyte growth factor. Mechanism investigation revealed that co-culture with adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells activated c-jun N-terminal kinase-p53 signaling in hepatic stellate cell and promoted apoptosis., Conclusions: Basic fibroblast growth factor treatment enhanced the therapeutic effect of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and secretion of hepatocyte growth factor from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells plays a critical role in amelioration of liver injury and regression of fibrosis., (© 2015 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.)

Purpose: Childhood cancer patients often suffer from Chemotheraphy-Associated Nausea and Vomiting (CANV). To alleviate CANV, relaxation techniques and patient education were combined to develop a multidimensional psychoeducational intervention package. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of the two major components, namely, (1) relaxation, and (2) patient education, of a psychoeducational intervention, prior to the commencement of the main study., Methods: A pre-test-post-test control group design was adopted. Twenty patients were allocated equally to the relaxation group (10 participants) and to the educational group (10 participants). Twenty historical matched control cases were identified to form the control groups. Besides, a process evaluation was adopted to assess the feasibility of the study., Results: In relation to episodes of vomiting on day 3, a significant difference was detected from the results (X(2) = 8.54, p = 0.036), in that fewer patients in the relaxation group experienced vomiting. A significant difference was not found in both the use of antiemetics and body weight between the groups. All subjects in the intervention groups adhered to the intervention and completed the questionnaire without difficulty. Patients and parents perceived the intervention as being moderately useful., Conclusions: Although the beneficial effect of relaxation and education in alleviating CANV was not well-supported statistically, the findings from descriptive data suggest that these interventions promoted the intake of antiemetics as a preventive method. Both interventions and instruments were well-received by the patients and also by their parents., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To examine the uptake of breast screening and its associated factors among Hong Kong Chinese women aged ≥50 years., Study Design: Cross-sectional population-based survey., Methods: A sample of Hong Kong Chinese women was recruited through telephone random-digit dialling. The survey consisted of six sections: perceived health status, use of complementary medicine, uptake of breast screening, perceived susceptibility to cancer, family history of cancer and demographic data. The factors associated with uptake of breast screening were analysed using logistic regression analysis., Results: In total, 1002 women completed the (anonymous) telephone survey. The mean age was 63.5 (standard deviation 10.6) years. The uptake rate of breast screening among Hong Kong Chinese women aged ≥50 years was 34%. The primary reasons for undertaking breast screening were as part of a regular medical check-up (74%), prompted by local signs and symptoms (11%) and a physician's recommendation (7%). Higher educational level, married or cohabiting, family history of cancer, frequent use of complementary therapies, regular visits to a doctor or Chinese herbalist, and the recommendation of a health professional were all independently and significantly associated with increased odds of having had a mammogram., Conclusions: This study provides community-based evidence of the need for public health policy to promote broader use of mammography services among this target population, with emphasis on the active involvement of health care professionals, through the development and implementation of appropriate evidence-based and resource-sensitive strategies., (Copyright © 2014 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Diagnosed with cancer is a traumatic event; it does not only affect the diagnosed patients, but also their caregivers. It brings along negative impacts on biopsychosocial health to the caregivers. Supportive interventions are essential for the caregivers to go through the cancer trajectory. In the past, interventions were being delivered in either face-to-face format or delivering written documents. Although Internet becomes a popular platform for delivering interventions given its substantial growth in usage, the effectiveness of this mode of intervention delivery is unclear. The aim of this review is to review existing literatures regarding efficacy of web-based interventions in psychological outcomes of cancer caregivers. A Literature search was performed in December 2012 from seven databases, including, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINHAL, ERIC, British Nursing Index and EBM Reviews. The following keywords were used in the search but were not limited to "paediatric", "parent", "caregiver", "cancer", "web-based", and "psycho education". Totally 4668 citations were identified, after excluding the duplicated and irrelevant citations; finally six studies were included in this review. A review of the literatures identified that the web-based interventions including either online support group only or a combination of informational website and online support group significantly improved coping skills, in a way reduced anxiety, stress, depression, burden, as well as negative mood and perceived bonding in cancer caregivers. It is concluded that a web-based format as a potential platform for delivering intervention to the caregivers of cancer patients for its unique advantage of easy accessibility, and no geographic or time barriers., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Objective: To investigate the uptake rate of prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing among Hong Kong Chinese males aged 50 or above, and identify factors associated with the likelihood of undergoing a PSA test., Methods: A population-based telephone survey was conducted in Hong Kong in 2007. The survey covered demographic information, perceived health status, use of complementary therapy, cancer screening behavior, perceived susceptibility to cancer and family history of cancer. Descriptive statistics, percentages and logistic regression analysis were used for data analysis., Results: A total of 1,002 men aged 50 or above took part in the study (response rate =67%), and the uptake rate of PSA testing was found to be 10%. Employment status, use of complementary therapy, perceiving regular visits to a doctor as good for health and the recommendations of health professionals were significant factors associated with PSA testing., Conclusion: The uptake rate of PSA testing in the study population was very low. Among all the factors identified, recommendations from health professionals had the strongest association with the uptake of PSA testing, and they should therefore take an active role in educating this population about cancer prevention and detection.

Aim: To describe a study protocol designed to explore the associations among the perceived unmet supportive care needs, quality of life and the demographic and clinical characteristics of head and neck cancer survivors., Background: The prognoses for people with head and neck cancer are improving with medical advances. However, studies have reported that such cancer survivors experience poor quality of life. Current studies mainly focus on Western populations and there is limited research investigating the needs of head and neck cancer survivors., Design: A mixed-design method is proposed, which will include two phases. Phase I will use a quantitative cross-sectional design and Phase II a qualitative descriptive approach., Methods: The participants will be recruited from the outpatient departments of three public hospitals in Hong Kong. In Phase I, a questionnaire will be used to collect demographic and clinical characteristics, supportive care needs, necessary access to various supportive services and quality of life. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted in Phase II. The study is supported by a grant from the Health and Health Services Research Fund, Hong Kong, September 2011., Discussion: The study will generate in-depth information on the needs of head and neck cancer survivors, to help healthcare professionals allocate resources better and develop new services, which can be more person-centred, to meet the needs of the these survivors., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The plant actin depolymerizing factor (ADF) binds to both monomeric and filamentous actin, and is directly involved in the depolymerization of actin filaments. To better understand the actin binding sites of the Arabidopsis thaliana L. AtADF1, we generated mutants of AtADF1 and investigated their functions in vitro and in vivo. Analysis of mutants harboring amino acid substitutions revealed that charged residues (Arg98 and Lys100) located at the α-helix 3 and forming an actin binding site together with the N-terminus are essential for both G- and F-actin binding. The basic residues on the β-strand 5 (K82/A) and the α-helix 4 (R135/A, R137/A) form another actin binding site that is important for F-actin binding. Using transient expression of CFP-tagged AtADF1 mutant proteins in onion (Allium cepa) peel epidermal cells and transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana L. plants overexpressing these mutants, we analyzed how these mutant proteins regulate actin organization and affect seedling growth. Our results show that the ADF mutants with a lower affinity for actin filament binding can still be functional, unless the affinity for actin monomers is also affected. The G-actin binding activity of the ADF plays an essential role in actin binding, depolymerization of actin polymers, and therefore in the control of actin organization., (© 2012 Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.)

Both clinical rating scales and objective locomotion measurement are critical evaluation for primate models of Parkinson's disease. Video image analysis system which has been widely used for objective measurement of locomotion behavior for systemic models has rarely been applied to hemiparkinsonian primate model. In this study, a video image analysis system provided by Vigie Primates software was used to assess the locomotion behavior of MPTP hemi-lesioned parkinsonian cynomolgus monkeys by intracarotid infusion. Regardless the presence of only hemilateral abnormal movement, this video image analysis system was sensitive enough to demonstrate a significant difference between normal and MPTP hemi-lesioned animal on several aspects of motor behavior depicted by this software, including quantity of movement, duration spent in activity and count of burst activity. Specifically, a newly introduced ratio of duration/count for every type of movements was a sensitive parameter to objectively measure the changes of locomotion behavior in MPTP hemi-lesioned parkinsonian primates. As a result, the ratio of duration/count for the middle activity was decreased and the ratio of duration/count for the freezing activity was increased in MPTP hemi-lesioned animals, which correlated well with clinical rating scores. Our results support that video image analysis system would be a sensitive objective measurement of locomotion behavior for hemi-lesioned parkinsonian monkeys.

A new compact lightweight imaging system for hyperspectral imaging is described. The system can be thought of as the substitute for traditional mechanical filter-wheel sensor. The system is based on different techniques. It uses an electronic controlled LCTF(liquid crystal tunable filter) which provided rapid and vibrationless selection of any wavelength in the visible to IR range. The imaging system consisted of an optic lens, a CRI VariSpec LCTF and a Dalsa 1M30 camera. First the outline of this system setup is presented, then the optics designed is introduced, next the working principle of LCTF is described in details. A field experiment with the imaging system loaded on an airship was carried out and collected hyperspectral solid image. The images obtained had higher spectral and spatial resolution. Some parts of the 540-600 nm components of the 16-band image cube were also shown. Finally, the data acquired were rough processed to get reflection spectrum(from 420 to 720 nm) of three targets. It is concluded that the experiment has proved that the imaging system is effective in obtaining hyperspectral data. The image captured by the system can be applied to spectral estimation, spectra based classification and spectral based analysis.

Background & Objective: Vascular endothelial growth factor-C and -D (VEGF-C, VEGF-D) are related to lymphangiogenesis. Papillary thyroid carcinoma is characterized by regional lymph node metastasis. This study was designed to determine the expression and significance of VEGF, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D in papillary thyroid carcinoma., Methods: The expression of VEGF, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D in 115 specimens of papillary thyroid carcinoma and 20 specimens of nodular goiter were detected by SP immunohistochemistry., Results: Positive rates of VEGF, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D were significantly higher in papillary thyroid carcinoma than in nodular goiter (79.1% vs. 30.0%, 87.0% vs. 15.0%, and 72.2% vs. 20.0%, P<0.01). The expression of VEGF was closely related to the size of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Positive rates of VEGF were 84.7% in lymph node positive group, and 73.2% in lymph node negative group. Positive rates of VEGF-C and VEGF-D were significantly higher in lymph node positive group than in lymph node negative group (93.2% vs. 80.4%, P<0.05; 83.1% vs. 60.7%, P<0.01)., Conclusion: VEGF is closely related to tumor growth of papillary thyroid carcinoma; while VEGF-C and VEGF-D are closely related to lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma, and may be predictors of lymph node metastasis.

Objective: To investigate the changes in binding features of (3)H -Ryanodine cardiac myocytic nuclei in reperfusion injury in the rat, and the effects of phosphorylation regulation on the binding characteristics., Methods: Healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) group and sham-operation group. IRI model was reproduced by ligating the left main coronary artery for 30 minutes followed by reperfusion of the heart for 3 hours, while in the sham-operation group the animals underwent a thoracotomy only for 3.5 hours. Cardiac myocytic nuclei were isolated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The maximum binding capacity (Bmax) and the dissociating ratio (Kd) of Ryanodine receptors (RyRs) were measured by radioligand binding analysis as well as Scatchard plot., Results: There was a high affinity of RyRs to bind with (3)H-Ryanodine on the nuclear wall of rat cardiac myocytic nucleus. Compared with that of the sham-operation group, Bmax of RyRs of IRI cardiac myocytic nuclei was decreased by 29% (P<0.01), but there was no difference in Kd between two groups(P>0.05). With phosphorylation by activating the endogenous protein kinase C(PKC) with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)+phosphatidyl serine(PS), Bmax of both sham and IRI groups were increased markedly (P<0.01), but in the latter group it was less increased (P<0.01). With phosphorylation by Ca(2+)-calmodulin (CaM), Bmax was decreased in both sham-operation and IRI groups (both P<0.05), but was less decreased in the latter(P<0.01). However, both PMA+PS and Ca(2+)-CaM did not change the Kd of nuclear RyR in either group (both P>0.05)., Conclusion: After IRI, Bmax of (3)H -Ryanodine of cardiac myocytic nuclei is decreased and the impact of PMA+PS and Ca(2+)-CaM on the Bmax is impaired, but the affinity of (3)H -Ryanodine to cardiac myocytic nuclei is not altered under above circumstances.

Background & Objective: Hypoxia is a common phenomenon in the tumor microenvironment of most solid tumors including human nasopharyngeal neoplasms. Hypoxia can induces vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression in some tumor cells like glioma cell line C6. The present investigations were conducted to study the effect of hypoxia on the VEGF gene expression in cultured nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell line CNE-2Z in vitro and to discuss its impact on tumor metastasis., Methods: Hypoxic culture model in vitro was established to test the VEGF gene expression in CNE-2Z cell line. After cultured in the hypoxia circumstance for 24 hours, VEGF expression were tested in mRNA level and protein level by RT-PCR and Western-blot analysis, respectively., Results: VEGF mRNA isoforms VEGF189, VEGF165, VEGF145,and VEGF121 were identified by RT-PCR in cultured CNE-2Z cell line. All of the four VEGF mRNA isoforms expression were increased after treated under hypoxia for 24 hours. The mRNA level of four VEGF isoforms were 2.67+/-0.30, 2.05+/-0.03, 2.73+/-0.15, and 1.65+/-0.01 folds as those in normoxic cells,respectively. Western blot analysis showed that VEGF protein expression in CNE-2Z cells was 2.20+/-0.07 folds as that in normoxic cells., Conclusion: VEGF gene expresses in CNE-2Z cell line and can be induced by hypoxia in vitro, this mechanism may be involve in metastasis process of NPC by inproved neoplasm angiogenesis.

Background & Objective: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is closely associated with the metastasis and infiltration of tumor. It was recently discovered that it is also associated with angiogenesis of tumor. This study was designed to investigate the expressions of MMP-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissue and their association with metastasis and infiltration of OSCC., Methods: The expressions of MMP-9 and VEGF were detected on paraffin-embedded samples from 51 cases of OSCC, 10 cases of oral squamous cell papilloma, and 10 of normal oral mucosa by immunohistochemistry., Results: MMP-9 and VEGF showed negative or weak positive expression in normal oral mucosa and oral squamous cell papilloma. The positive expression rate of MMP-9 and VEGF in OSCC were 78.4% (40/50) and 82.4% (42/51); the coexpression of MMP-9 and VEGF was 66.7% (34/51)., Conclusion: There was difference between the expression of MMP-9 and VEGF in OSCC tissue. The infiltration of tumor cell is closely associated with the expression of MMP-9 (P < 0.01). Cervical lymph node metastasis closely correlates to the expression level of VEGF (P < 0.01). MMP-9 and VEGF could be used as biological indices for clinically evaluating infiltrative and metastatic potential of OSCC.

Objective. To investigate features of electrocardiography (ECG) and arterial pressure in dog during and after +Gz stress. Method. Six anesthetized dogs were catheterized for the measurement of ascending aortic pressure (AP) and common iliac arterial pressure (CIAP). A lead of ECG was monitored continuously. Then, dogs were placed supine in rotatable platform on one arm of an 1.7 m radius centrifuge. The animals were exposed serially to acceleration profiles of up to +7 Gz, consisting of a slow onset to peak acceleration, 90 s peak G, and a rapid decline back to control. A recovery time of at least 20 min was allowed after each acceleration profile. Result. (1) The amplitude of P-wave was influenced by the magnitude of the acceleration (2.3 +/- 0.2 mV at rest vs. 4.5 +/- 0.5 mV at +3 Gz, 4.8 +/- 0.3 mV at +5 Gz and 5.3 +/- 0.7 mV at +7 Gz, respectively P<0.05). (2) It appeared that arterial mean pressure increased and pulse pressure decreased in CIAP during high +Gz stress. (3) AP increased greatly after +Gz stress (17.29 +/- 5.59/11.31 +/- 3.86 kPa at rest vs. 27.53 +/- 6.12/20.62 +/- 1.86 kPa 30s after +7 Gz P<0.01). Conclusion. (1) The change of the amplitude of P-wave reflected the atrial displacement which may be the reason of arrhythmia. (2) The perfusion pressure is an important physiological parameter to the cardiovascular dysfunction during high +Gz stress. (3) Greatly higher AP after +Gz stress could be a feature of vascular exhaustion.

Aim: To investigate the morphology of lymph vessel capillaries in both human gastric carcinomas and their peritumoral tissues, as well as the relation of this morphology to lymphatic metastasis., Methods: The morphology and fine distribution of both lymph vessels and capillaries in and around the primary foci of gastric carcinoma were studied using the 5'Nase Alpase double staining method. The total amount of opened vessels and the opening rate of lymph vessels and capillaries were counted using a light microscope (100 × magnification), and the maximal luminal area, perimeter and diameter were measured using an image analysis technique., Results: Lymph vessels and capillaries displayed strong 5'Nase-positive staining (brown and dark brown), while blood vessels and capillaries revealed significant Alpase activity (blue). There were many lymph vessels, capillaries and solid strip-like tissues found in the gastric carcinoma samples analyzed. The total amount of lymphatics in the metastatic group (gastric carcinoma vs peritumoral tissue) and non-metastatic group was 26.9 ± 14.2 vs 10.4 ± 4.0, 11.4 ± 3.4 and 9.7 ± 3.2, P < 0.01, respectively. Their opening rates were 21.2 vs 47.5 and 40.4 vs 46.0, P < 0.01, respectively. Their maximal luminal areas were 1502.98 ± 1236.91 vs 5526.80 ± 4853.42; 1918.14 ± 2299.24 vs 3836.16 ± 3549.16; 5526.80 ± 4853.42 vs 3836.16 ± 3549.16, P < 0.05, their perimeters were 220.33 ± 130.25 vs 441.43 ± 276.51; 241.79 ± 171.13 vs 333.80 ± 199.66; 441.43 ± 276.51 vs 333.80 ± 199.60, P < 0.05, and their diameters were 28.80 ± 14.98 vs 59.39 ± 28.53; 25.37 ± 15.79 vs 46.22 ± 20.85; 59.39 ± 28.53 vs 46.22 ± 20.85, P < 0.05, respectively. In summary, the lymphatics found in gastric carcinoma samples from the metastatic group were significantly lower than those of the other groups., Conclusion: There are newly formed lymph capillaries found in gastric carcinoma. Dilation of lymph capillaries may be related to edema found in peritumoral connective tissues. The observed lymph node metastases from gastric carcinoma occur through mature lymph capillaries that invade in and around primary gastric carcinoma foci.

Rates of phosphate adsorption to PT-A (a new type of aluminium oxide hydroxide) and ALG (aluminum hydroxide gel) from a pH 3 phosphate solution were measured by a batch method. Phosphate uptake progressed mainly by the adsorption mechanism for PT-A, but dissolution of aluminum and precipitation of aluminum phosphate took place in addition to phosphate adsorption for ALG. The intraparticle diffusivities (Dp'S) of phosphate were evaluated from the time courses of adsorption using the model of pore diffusion with a Freundlich-type adsorption isotherm. The Dp values were approximately 7 x 10(-7) cm2 S-1 for PT-A and 1 x 10(-6) cm2 s(-1) for ALG. The tortuosity factors calculated from a model of parallel plate pore were 5.1 for PT-A and 6.7 for ALG; these values resembled those for porous inorganic ion exchangers. The adsorption rates are high enough for each of the samples to be utilized as a phosphate adsorbent to prevent hyperphosphatemia in patients on chronic dialysis. PT-A is favored as a phosphate adsorbent because of its high chemical stability against acid.

Three anti-EGF receptor MoAbs were used in these studies. Administration of MoAbs 3 and 176 inhibited tumor formation in nude mice by CNE-2, a poorly differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line and A431, an epidermoid carcinoma cell line. When the same MoAbs were used in treatment against HeLa, a cervical carcinoma, tumor growth was not affected. The number of EGF receptors and apparent dissociation constants for 125I-EGF on CNE-2 and A431 was 1.3 x 10(5)/cell (Kd 7.7 x 10(-8) mol/L) and 1.4 x 10(6)/cell (Kd 2.4 x 10(-9) mol/L), respectively. Both MoAbs 3 and 176, capable of competing with EGF for receptor binding, showed significant tumor growth inhibition. MoAb 101 was incapable of blocking the binding of EGF to its receptor, and not as effective as MoAbs 3 and 176 in tumor growth inhibition. Our observation is that the MoAb anti-EGF receptor is cytostatic rather than cytocidal, in vitro against CNE-2 and A431.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma was induced in an initiation/promotion model in rats by s.c. injection of dinitrosopiperazine in the nasopharyngeal cavity. This was followed by repeated 10-cal administration of an extract of roots of the Chinese medicinal herb WI (botanical family: Thymelaeaceae). Three groups of rats were used: group-1 received DNP followed by repeated WI; group-2 received DNP once; group-3 received WI repeatedly. At 180-205 days after DNP + WI administration 26% of the rats in that group exhibited NPC (two were carcinomas in situ and four were early infiltrating carcinomas). In the other two groups no carcinomas were found. In the group which received DNP followed by WI, other pathological changes, such as hyperplasia of nasopharyngeal epithelium, squamous metaplasia, and papillary hyperplasia, were also more frequent than that in the other two groups.

Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) were developed against epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor on the human epidermoid carcinoma cell line A431. The A431 antigen recognized by the MoAbs has an apparent molecular weight of approximately 170,000, with the same molecular weight as the CNE-2 cell line (poorly differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma). Administration of anti-EGF receptor MoAbs inhibited tumor formation, caused by the CNE-2 and A431 cell lines, in athymic mice. When the same MoAbs were used in therapy against Tca8113 (a human tongue carcinoma) and HeLa cells (a human cervical carcinoma), tumor growth was not affected. The number of EGF receptors and the apparent dissociation constants for 125I-EGF on CNE-2 and A431 were 1.3 x 10(5)/cell (Kd 7.7 x 10(-8) M) and 1.4 x 10(6)/cell (Kd 2.4 x 10(-9) M), respectively. Three anti-EGF receptor MoAbs were used in these studies. MoAbs 3 and 176, capable of competing with EGF for receptor binding, showed significant tumor growth inhibition. MoAb 101 was incapable of blocking the binding of EGF to its receptor and was not as effective as MoAbs 3 and 176 in tumor growth inhibition. Our observation is that in vitro, MoAb anti-EGF receptor is cytostatic, rather than cytocidal, against CNE-2 and A431.