Multimodal molecular imaging has shown promise as a complementary approach to thrombus detection. However, the simultaneous noninvasive detection and lysis of thrombi for cardiovascular diseases remain challenging. Herein, a perfluorohexane (PFH)-based biocompatible nanostructure was fabricated, namely, as-prepared Fe3O4-poly­(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-PFH-CREKA nanoparticles (NPs), which combine phase transition (PT) thrombolysis capabilities with properties conducive to multimodal imaging. This well-developed PT agent responded effectively to low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) by triggering the vaporization of liquid PFH to achieve thrombolysis. The presence of the CREKA peptide, which binds to the fibrin of the thrombus, allows targeted imaging and efficacious thrombolysis. Then, we found that, compared with thrombolysis using a non-phase-transition agent, PT thrombolysis can produce a robust decrease in the thrombus burden regardless of the acoustic power density of LIFU. In particular, the reduced energy for LIFU-responsive PT during the lysis process guarantees the superior safety of PT thrombolysis. After injecting the NPs intravenously, we demonstrated that this lysis process can be monitored with ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging in vivo to evaluate its efficacy. Therefore, this nonpharmaceutical strategy departs from routine methods and reveals the potential use of PT thrombolysis as an effective and noninvasive alternative to current thrombolytic therapy.

Atherosclerosis is a major cause of sudden death and myocardial infarction, instigated by unstable plaques. Thus, the early detection of unstable plaques and corresponding treatment can improve the prognosis and reduce mortality. In this study, we describe a protocol for the preparation of nanoparticles (NPs) combined with the phase transitional material perfluorohexane (PFH) and with dextran sulfate (DS) targeting class A scavenger receptors (SR-A) for the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques. The results showed that the Fe-PFH-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/chitosan (CS)-DS NPs were fabricated successfully, with the ability to undergo phase transition by low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) irradiation to achieve ultrasound imaging; a high carrier rate of Fe 3 O 4 had a good negative enhancement effect on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The NPs had a high binding affinity for activated macrophages and could be endocytosed by the macrophages and notably induced apoptosis under LIFU irradiation by an acoustic droplet vaporization effect in vitro. Furthermore, in an ex vivo atherosclerotic plaque model of apolipoprotein E knockout (KO) (apoE −/− ) mice induced by high cholesterol, the NPs selectively accumulated at the sites of SR-A expressed on the activated macrophages of the aortic region. This result was also confirmed by MRI in vivo, where the NPs could be targeted to the aortic plaque and reduced the T 2 * signal. The LIFU-induced phase transition could lead to the apoptosis of macrophages on plaques in vivo. In summary, Fe-PFH-PLGA/CS-DS NPs may be applied as multimodal and multifunctional probes and are expected to enable the specific diagnosis and targeted therapy of vulnerable plaques.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the current state of post-traumatic growth (PTG) and identify its influencing factors in discharged COVID-19 patients. PTG refers to individual experiences of significant positive change arising from the struggle with a major life crisis. This descriptive cross-sectional study used the convenient sampling method to recruit 140 discharged COVID-19 patients in Hunan, China. The results show that the PTG of the discharged COVID-19 patients was positively correlated with self-esteem, post-traumatic stress disorder, coping style tendency, and social support, but negatively correlated with the time from onset to diagnosis. Our findings could provide guidance on improving the psychological state and well-being of discharged COVID-19 patients.

BackgroundDue to lack of companionship of parents, compared with non left behind children, left behind children (LBC) suffer from more psychological problems compared with children live with their parents. The aim of this study was to explore the mental health status and the relationship among psychological problems and the related factors of LBC.MethodAdopting delaminating-random-group sampling and using region, county, village (town) as sampling framework, we utilized Demographic Data Recording Form, Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check List, Scale of APGAR, Perceived Social Support Scale, Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Self-Esteem Scale and Scale of Mental Health for Chinese Middle-school Student to assess 1309 left behind child in junior middle school students’ mental health in Hunan. Statistic description, Structural equation model was adopted to analyze the data.ResultThere was a significant difference in score of psychological problems between LBC and non-LBC(F = 18.224, P<0.000). Life event was the major factor(r = .487) that affected psychological problems (path coefficient, PC = 0.08) directly and affect psychological problems indirectly through affecting passive coping (PC = 0.01)and family functioning(PC = 0.02); family functioning impacted psychological problems indirectly through affecting social support (PC = 4.89) and self-esteem (PC = 0.10); social support (PC = −0.02), passive coping (PC =0.07) and active coping PC = −0.04) affected psychological problems directly. Psychoticism (P) (PC = 0.11), Neuroticism (N) influenced psychological problems of LBC both directly (PC = 0.04) and indirectly through affecting self-esteem (PC: P:-1.87; N: -0.83), while Extraversion/Introversion (E) (PC = 0.21) only impact psychological problems indirectly through self-esteem. Altogether, these variables accounted for 50.2% of total variance of psychological problems (F = 130.470, P = 0.000) for LBC.ConclusionIn this research we proved that LBC have more sever psychological problems than non-LBC. We also identified the direct and indirect influential factors of psychological problems of LBC. The findings had important implications for prevention policies and interventions to promote mental health of LBC.

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a self-efficacy enhancing intervention designed for pulmonary rehabilitation based on motivational interviewing (MI) for postsurgical non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. This study was a 2-arm pilot randomized controlled trial and was conducted in two cardiothoracic surgery departments, a tertiary hospital in Fuzhou, China. 28 postsurgical NSCLC patients were randomized to a 3 month (6 session) self-efficacy enhancing intervention based on MI or usual care (UC). Data were measured at baseline and after intervention. The MI based self-efficacy enhancing intervention group was superior to the UC group for reducing anxiety and depression, improving self-efficacy, quality of life, confrontational coping, social support and functional capacity. However, no statistically significant difference was observed in subjective well-being, posttraumatic growth, body mass index and pulmonary function between the two groups. This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of MI based self-efficacy enhancing intervention for postsurgical NSCLC patients. A larger randomized trial would demonstrate a more rigorous test of efficacy.

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Objective: The psychological resilience of postoperative non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is influenced by many factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate the current state of psychological resilience and identify its influencing factors in postoperative NSCLC patients. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study used a convenience sampling method and recruited 382 inpatients from two Class A hospitals in Hunan, China. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Strategies Used by People to Promote Health (SUPHH), Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used. Results: Postoperative NSCLC patients' psychological resilience was at a low level, with a score of (57.18 ± 8.55). Stepped Linear Regression showed that the related influencing factors of psychological resilience of postoperative NSCLC patients were age (β = −0.313, P < .001), family average income (β = 0.143, P < .001), self-efficacy (β = 0.416, P < .001), confrontation (β = 0.116, P < .001) and acceptance-resignation (β = −0.155, P < .001), which could explain 58.0% of the total variation in psychological resilience (F = 103.68, P<.001). Conclusions: Psychological resilience is positively predicted by average income, self-efficacy, confrontation, but negatively predicted by age and acceptanceresignation. Self-efficacy is the most important variable influencing psychological resilience in postoperative NSCLC patients. In the future, a series of targeted interventions need to be implemented to strengthen patients' self-efficacy and psychological resilience, which can also improve the quality of life of postoperative NSCLC patients.