Persistent hyperglycemia in diabetes causes endothelial cell dysfunction. Exposure to high levels of glucose, which mimics hyperglycemia, induced expression of microRNA 221 (miR-221) but reduced expression of c-kit, the receptor for stem cell factor in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In addition, high glucose treatment impaired endothelial cell migration. Incubation with the antisense miR-221 oligonucleotide AMO-221 reduced expression of miR-221 and restored c-kit protein expression in HUVECs treated with high levels of glucose. Furthermore, AMO-221 treatment abolished the inhibitory effect of high glucose exposure on HUVECs transmigration. Thus, under hyperglycemic conditions, miR-221 is induced in HUVECs, which consequently triggers inhibition of c-kit and impairment of HUVECs migration. These findings suggest that manipulation of the miR-221-c-kit pathway may offer a novel strategy for treatment of vascular dysfunction in diabetic patients.
BackgroundAlmost half of pediatric third-year residents surveyed in 2000 had never led a resuscitation event. With increasing restrictions on residency work hours and a decline in patient volume in some hospitals, there is potential for fewer opportunities.PurposeOur primary purpose was to test the hypothesis that an unannounced mock resuscitation in a high-fidelity in-situ simulation training program would improve both residents’ self-confidence and observed performance of adopted best practices in neonatal resuscitation.MethodsEach pediatric and medicine–pediatric resident in one pediatric residency program responded to an unannounced scenario that required resuscitation of the high fidelity infant simulator. Structured debriefing followed in the same setting, and a second cycle of scenario response and debriefing occurred before ending the 1-hour training experience. Measures included pre- and post-program confidence questionnaires and trained observer assessments of live and videotaped performances.ResultsStatistically significant pre–post gains for self-confidence were observed for 8 of the 14 NRP critical behaviors (p=0.00–0.03) reflecting knowledge, technical, and non-technical (teamwork) skills. The pre–post gain in overall confidence score was statistically significant (p=0.00). With a maximum possible assessment score of 41, the average pre–post gain was 8.28 and statistically significant (p<0.001). Results of the video-based assessments revealed statistically significant performance gains (p<0.0001). Correlation between live and video-based assessments were strong for pre–post training scenario performances (pre: r=0.64, p<0.0001; post: r=0.75, p<0.0001).ConclusionsResults revealed high receptivity to in-situ, simulation-based training and significant positive gains in confidence and observed competency-related abilities. Results support the potential for other applications in residency and continuing education.
With the global spread of the Coronavirus epidemic, search engine data can be a practical tool for decision-makers to understand the epidemic's trends. This article uses trend analysis data from the Baidu search engine, the most widely used in China, to analyze the public's attention to the epidemic and the demand for N95 masks and other anti-epidemic materials and information. This kind of analysis has become an important part of information epidemiology. We have analyzed the use of the keywords “Coronavirus epidemic,” “N95 mask,” and “Wuhan epidemic” to judge whether the introduction of real-time search data has improved the efficiency of the Coronavirus epidemic prediction model. In general, the introduction of the Baidu index, whether in-sample or out-of-sample, significantly improves the prediction efficiency of the model.
VPA could not only suppress tumor progression but also provide a novel promising therapeutic choice in combination with a receptor-targeted cytotoxic conjugate via activating the specific receptor.
To investigate potential links between environmental exposure to petrochemical plant emissions and lung cancer, a population-based case-control study (LMRICS) was conducted in eleven Louisiana parishes bordering the Mississippi River. Cases and age, gender, and race-matched controls were interviewed regarding potential risk factors. Residential history was geocoded to provide indices of long-term proximity to industrial sites. Cases were more likely to have lived near a petrochemical site. Models adjusted for other risk factors, however, showed small or no association with lung cancer (odds ratio for residence within a half-mile of a site = 1.10, 95% confidence interval 0.58–2.08). While associations were strongest for exposures exceeding 15 years, none approached statistical significance and there was no clear dose-response across exposure duration, distance categories, or when sites were grouped according to carcinogenicity rating of chemical releases. Residential proximity to petrochemical plants along the lower Mississippi thus showed no significant association with lung cancer.
We investigated the impact of repetitive training using high-fidelity simulation (HFS) at the point of care on the teamwork attitudes of operating room (OR) personnel. Members of the general surgical OR teams at an academic medical center participated in two half-day point-of-care HFS team training sessions. Module 1 targeted teamwork competencies; Module 2 included a preoperative briefing strategy. Modules were separated by 1 month. For each training, participants completed pre- and postsession questionnaires that included a 15-item self-efficacy tool targeting teamwork competencies using a 6-point Likert-type scale. Pre- and postsession mean scores were compared with a t test. Matched pre- and postsessions questionnaires were collected from 38 and 39 participants for Module 1 and Module 2, respectively. Mean item improvement from pre- to posttraining was 0.43 units (range, 0.23 to 0.69 units) for Module 1 and 0.42 units (range, 0.15 to 0.53 units) for Module 2. After Bonferroni adjustment, statistically significant improvement in scores from pre- to posttraining increased from four items after Module 1 to nine items after Module 2. Repetitive training of interdisciplinary OR teams through HFS at the point of care increases the effectiveness of promoting attitudinal change toward team-based competencies among participants.
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