[Development and Application of Family Management in Nursing Care].

The concept of family management has gained increasing acceptance in the United States for over two decades and is today applied in care worldwide. However, this concept is still largely novel to clinical professionals in Taiwan. This article was written to present the history and current application of family management to promote greater recognition of the related opportunities and potentials in the nursing field.

Regulation of swelling behaviour while preserving bulk modulus in hydrogels surface grafting.

This study presents a novel approach to control "linked property changes" in hydrogels. Specifically, we controlled the swelling behaviour without altering the bulk elastic modulus by grafting polymers selectively into the surface region of the gels, while varying the graft amount.

CPEB2-activated axonal translation of VGLUT2 mRNA promotes glutamatergic transmission and presynaptic plasticity.

Background: Local translation at synapses is important for rapidly remodeling the synaptic proteome to sustain long-term plasticity and memory. While the regulatory mechanisms underlying memory-associated local translation have been widely elucidated in the postsynaptic/dendritic region, there is no direct evidence for which RNA-binding protein (RBP) in axons controls target-specific mRNA translation to promote long-term potentiation (LTP) and memory. We previously reported that translation controlled by cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 2 (CPEB2) is important for postsynaptic plasticity and memory.

Electrified Interactions of Polyzwitterions with Charged Surfaces: Role of Dipole Orientation and Surface Potentials.

The zwitterionic groups possess strong dipole moments, leading to inter- or intrachain interactions among zwitterionic polymers. This study aims to demonstrate the interaction of polyzwitterions poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC), and poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate) (PCBMA) with electrified surfaces, despite their electrically neutral nature. We studied the adsorption of polyzwitterions and their monomers on electrified surfaces by using an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (EQCM-D).

Truncation of GalNAc-type O-glycans Suppresses CD44-mediated Osteoclastogenesis and Bone Metastasis in Breast Cancer.

Unlabelled: The glycoprotein CD44 is a key regulator of malignant behaviors in breast cancer cells. To date, hyaluronic acid (HA)-CD44 signaling pathway has been widely documented in the context of metastatic bone diseases. Core 1 β1,3-galactosyltransferase (C1GALT1) is a critical enzyme responsible for the elongation of O-glycosylation.

Evaluation of Tellurium-Based AS101 Compound against Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infectivity.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) is a obligate human pathogen responsible for gonorrhea, one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. The yearly increased multidrug resistance in GC has led to treatment failure clinically, suggesting an urgent need for novel therapy to combat this global health issue. AS101 [ammonium trichloro(dioxoethylene-O,O'-)tellurate], a tellurium-based compound previously used as an immunomodulatory agent, was found to have antimicrobial effects against Klebsiella pneumoniae via a high-throughput drug screening and showed antibacterial activity against Acinetobacter spp.

Adolescents with Atopic Dermatitis Have Lower Peak Exercise Load Capacity and Exercise Volume Compared with Unaffected Peers.

Sweating and increased skin temperature caused by exercise can reduce physical activity and the willingness to exercise in adolescents with atopic dermatitis. This study was conducted to investigate the exercise load capacity of adolescents with atopic dermatitis and analyzed their exercise behavior and motivation. Adolescents with and without atopic dermatitis were assigned to the atopic dermatitis group and control group ( = 27 each).

Aeromonas hydrophila Induces Skin Disturbance through Mucosal Microbiota Dysbiosis in Striped Catfish ().

Bacterial pathogens are well equipped to adhere to and initiate infection in teleost fish. Fish skin mucus serves as the first barrier against environmental pathogens. The mucus harbors commensal microbes that impact host physiological and immunological responses.

Zwitterionic Conducting Polymers: From Molecular Design, Surface Modification, and Interfacial Phenomenon to Biomedical Applications.

Conducting polymers (CPs) have gained attention as electrode materials in bioengineering mainly because of their mechanical softness compared to conventional inorganic materials. To achieve better performance and broaden bioelectronics applications, the surface modification of soft zwitterionic polymers with antifouling properties represents a facile approach to preventing unwanted nonspecific protein adsorption and improving biocompatibility. This feature article emphasizes the antifouling properties of zwitterionic CPs, accompanied by their molecular synthesis and surface modification methods and an analysis of the interfacial phenomenon.

Fabrication of Polysulfobetaine Gradient Coating via Oxidation Polymerization of Pyrogallol To Modulate Biointerfaces.

A surface with a gradient physical or chemical feature, such as roughness, hardness, wettability, and chemistry, serves as a powerful platform for high-throughput investigation of cell responses to a biointerface. In this work, we developed a continuous antifouling gradient surface using pyrogallol (PG) chemistry. A copolymer of a zwitterionic monomer, sulfobetaine methacrylate, and an amino monomer, aminoethyl methacrylate, were synthesized (pSBAE) and deposited on glass slides via the deposition of self-polymerized PG.

In Vitro Analysis of Matched Isolates from Localized and Disseminated Gonococcal Infections Suggests That Opa Expression Impacts Clinical Outcome.

Gonorrhea is the second most common sexually transmitted infection, which is primarily localized but can be disseminated systemically. The mechanisms by which a localized infection becomes a disseminated infection are unknown. We used five pairs of isolates from the cervix/urethra (localized) and the blood (disseminated) of patients with disseminated gonococcal infection to examine the mechanisms that confine gonococci to the genital tract or enable them to disseminate to the blood.

Construction of a nano-phase-separated structure on a hydrogel surface.

A hydrogel surface with a nano-phase-separated structure was successfully fabricated by grafting a fluorine-containing polymer using activators regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerisation (ARGET ATRP). The modified hydrogel surface exhibits water repellency and high elasticity with maintaining transparency.

Combination of AFM and Electrochemical QCM-D for Probing Zwitterionic Polymer Brushes in Water: Visualization of Ionic Strength and Surface Potential Effects.

The surface modification of soft zwitterionic polymer brushes with antifouling properties represents a facile approach to enhancing the performance of bioelectronics. Ionic strength and applied potentials play a crucial role in controlling polymer brushes' conformation and hydration states. In this study, we quantitatively investigated and compared poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) and poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) brushes at different salt concentrations and applied surface potentials.

Establishment of a striped catfish skin explant model for studying the skin response in Aeromonas hydrophila infections.

Teleost fish skin serves as the first line of defense against pathogens. The interaction between pathogen and host skin determines the infection outcome. However, the mechanism(s) that modulate infection remain largely unknown.

Hill Extracts Exhibits Antioxidant Effects and Attenuates Melanogenesis in B16-F10 Cells via Downregulating CREB/MITF/Tyrosinase and Upregulating p-ERK and p-JNK.

Hill is a perennial herb traditionally used to alleviate inflammatory complications. This study investigated the antioxidant and anti-melanogenic activities of . The methanolic extract (OLM) of and its different fractions, including ethyl acetate (OLEF), -butanol (OLBF), and water (OLWF) fractions, were prepared.

CMTR1-Catalyzed 2'-O-Ribose Methylation Controls Neuronal Development by Regulating Camk2α Expression Independent of RIG-I Signaling.

Eukaryotic mRNAs are 5' end capped with a 7-methylguanosine, which is important for processing and translation of mRNAs. Cap methyltransferase 1 (CMTR1) catalyzes 2'-O-ribose methylation of the first transcribed nucleotide (N1 2'-O-Me) to mask mRNAs from innate immune surveillance by retinoic-acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I). Nevertheless, whether this modification regulates gene expression for neuronal functions remains unexplored.

Evaluation of a Video-Based Intervention to Promote Condom Use Among College Students in Taiwan.

Almost of HIV/AIDS cases in Taiwan occur in the age range of 20 to 29 yrs. Many of the reported cases are in the college-age and infection might have occurred through unprotected sexual behaviors. This study was to identify the effectiveness of a video-based intervention has important implications for health provider to plan evidence-based address the specific needs of college students.

Development of a prediction model for early diagnosis of not passing the national council of licensure examination for registered associate degree nurses.

Passing the national licensure examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN) in the US is a critical outcome of the nursing program. Research has been conducted to identify which nursing students are at risk for not passing the NCLEX-RN test. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether any of several student covariates can be used to accurately identify associate in science in nursing (ASN) students that are at-risk for failing the NCLEX-RN test.

Cyclic pamidronate infusion for neonatal-onset osteogenesis imperfecta.

Background: Patients with severe osteogenesis imperfecta (OI; MIM number 259420) suffer from low bone mass, fractures, and bone pain since birth, and have poor prognosis. This study assessed the outcome of patients with severe OI who were treated with cyclic pamidronate prior to the age of 1 year.

Methods: The six patients, who had bone fractures either in utero or in their 1st month of life, were treated with cyclic pamidronate from a mean age of 2.

The contribution of plasmid design and release to in vivo gene expression following delivery from cationic polymer modified scaffolds.

Tissue engineering scaffolds capable of gene delivery can provide a structure that supports tissue formation while also inducing the expression of inductive factors. Sustained release strategies are hypothesized to maintain elevated plasmid concentrations locally that can enhance gene transfer. In this report, we investigate the relationship between plasmid release kinetics and the extent and duration of transgene expression.

Optimal quantization method for uneven-phase diffractive optical elements by use of a modified iterative Fourier-transform algorithm.

A method based on an iterative Fourier-transform algorithm (IFTA) with phase optimization for phase-only multilevel diffractive optical elements (DOEs) is presented. Phase optimization by minimizing the mean-squared error composed of an amplitude-weighted probability-density function is performed in the IFTA iterations to ensure that the wavefront difference is minimized and thus to improve the DOEs' performance. Using the proposed method, we obtained a small standard deviation of diffraction efficiency of 20 uneven-phase DOEs, showing that DOEs with high diffraction efficiency did not vary significantly with the initial conditions.

Lipid nano/submicron emulsions as vehicles for topical flurbiprofen delivery.

The application of lipid nano/submicron emulsions as topical drug carrier systems for the percutaneous absorption of flurbiprofen was investigated. The lipid emulsions were made up of isopropyl myristate (IPM), soybean oil, or coconut oil as the oil phase, egg lecithin as the predominant emulsifier, and double-distilled water as the external phase. Stearylamine (SA) and deoxycholic acid (DA) also were used to produce positively and negatively charged emulsions.